Katherine Pyle (1863 – 1938) wrote this version of The Sea Princess for the children’s magazine St. Nicholas in 1890.

The Sea Princess

By Katherine Pyle (1863 – 1938)

In a garden of shining sea-weed,

Set round with twisted shells,

Under the deeps of the ocean,

The little sea princess dwells.

Sometimes she sees the shadow

Of a great whale passing by,

Or a white-winged vessel sailing

Between the sea and the sky.

Without the palace, her sea-horse

Feeds in his crystal stall,

And fishes with scales that glisten

Come leaping forth at her call.

And when the day has faded,

From over the lonesome deep,

In a shell as smooth as satin

The princess is rocked to sleep.