The Mermaid's Revenge
by Roberta
She was fresh from the sea
and made of salt.
I lick her with the tip of my tongue.
Carry her upon it. She is
flipper without face. They say
she is the murder of men
in those graceful tail-flips.
I taste the word 'murder.'
Her murder is made of nectar
and the knives of her fin.
We were never
meant to touch her.
Lapping salt beads from
my crackling, ecstatic lips.
"We were never/meant to touch her." I love this (and mermaids in general, of course).
Liked this very much, the voice, the form and the touch of menace. fave
thank you very much, beate and maryanne. much appreciated.
Hauntingly beautiful - "her murder is made of nectar and the knives of her fin."
Really like the phrasing in this piece, Roberta. Great form.
Thank you so much, Emily and Sam both.
Emily: 'hauntingly beautiful' is such a lovely compliment on that phrasing - thanks again.
Watch out for those sharp fins.
I like the imaginative and evocative use of language here.
How about them apples?
Fav.
Thanks Jack!
And yes, I expect knife-covered fins prob are best watched out for.
Lovely use of language and form in this poem, it captivated me.
*
Thank you muchly, Susan!