This is an experimental piece written in the form of a ballad. The inspiration is sourced from, in this case, Germanic folklore; Nixie also appears in Scandinavian, Celtic, Nordic and other mythology's by other names.
The actual story told in the ballad of Eva and Jack Marella is from my imagination.
Note to Poem
Nixie, in Germanic ancient folklore is a shape-shifting water fairy and is infamous for singing enchanted songs to lure human prey to watery deaths. The Nixie is usually a malicious female mermaid, and the Nix is her male counterpart.
The Ballad of Eva and Jack Meralla
Soft lilting songs from the depths of
yellow and orange sun glazed waters,
Jack’s fishing boat now becalmed
Enchanted by Nixie’s belying charm;
And then the runes were cast so fast
As Nixie sang Eva downed her glass
Eva Marella knows not of sobriety
A raconteur of fables in gaiety.
Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo
Oh Fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe.
Now Jack Marella sings a shanty
Tied to the mast in a bottle of glass
Never again will he hold his soul
Till Nixie’s paid in doubloons of gold;
Mrs Marella head under her arm
Around her feet they swirled
Eva Marella sways to shanty
In drunkenness on gin and brandy.
Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo
Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe.
Nixie why’d you to steal Jack’s soul
You green eyed siren of the deep
Eva she cried, “Oh sing to me”
With all your mystical beauty;
Mrs Marella she danced with Nixie
Never to gaze into her deep green eyes,
Under clear skies that night in June
Vowed she’d win him back none too soon.
Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo
fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe.
Not brandy, nore gin had been her sin
Since she vowed to win Jack back
For pieces of gold she told old fables
In the tavern round cider soaked tables;
As Eva Marella stowed the boats oars
Over the gunwale went the doubloons;
She woke next morning in marital bed
To Mr Marella kissing her forehead.
Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo
Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe
Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo
Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe.
