You Must Not Swim..
You Must Not Swim.. - meaning Summary
Protection and Sea-born Freedom
A brief didactic lyric speaking to a young creature of the sea. The speaker warns that swimming too early invites danger—storms and predators can harm a baby seal—yet counters that splash and play build strength. The poem balances protective anxiety with an affirmation of natural development: cautious advice gives way to encouragement that growth through experience is necessary for a child of the open sea.
Read Complete AnalysesYou must n't swim till you're six weeks old, Or your head will be sunk by your heels; And summer gales and Killer Whales Are bad for baby seals. Are bad for baby seals, dear rat, As bad as bad can be; But splash and grow strong, And you can't be wrong, Child of the Open Sea!
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