The Sea, Defined

I have never heard any definition of the sea more impressive than that of a fisherman of the isle of Ulva, whom I knew. “She is like a woman of the old tales whose beauty is dreadful,” he said, “and who breaks your heart at last whether she smiles or frowns. But she doesn’t care about that, or whether you are hurt or not. It’s because she has no heart, being all a wild water.”

-- Fiona Macleod, “Cuildih Mhore”