Summary

The speaker describes some of the superstitions sailors hold about sailing and the natural world. In particular, women on a ship are thought to bring bad luck. However, she’s able to pay for her passage on the ship. While at sea, a ferocious storm comes. Blaming the speaker for angering the gods, the sailors throw her overboard in sacrifice. Instead of drowning, the speaker becomes a mermaid. Later, she sings to lure sailors to their deaths in retribution for those that hurt her.

Analysis

“Sea Superstitions” opens with a series of “rules” sailors believe one needs to follow to ensure a safe and prosperous passage. Each line in this first stanza ends on an em-dash, creating a unique visual sharpness. The second stanza is a single-line subordinate clause which opens with a contrasting softer ellipsis. This acts as something of a thesis statement...