They told me she did not exist, at first,
that stained glass loves to trick the eye.
The worst thing about the windows is that God rarely
passes by; the church does not illuminate
with light. Instead, we’re tricked into thinking
that this bright-leggèd woman has a tail.
And so my mermaid paled and wept;
I’d made her wear a shirt so I could bring her
as my guest. The tops of her white breasts crowded
like the heads of newborn babies to her chest.
She was Madonna for the possessed,
her giant tail wetting the wood of pews.
We read Micah, Chapter Seven, in the mass:
And he will cast our sins into the depths of sea.
Verse Nineteen. My mermaid said It’s true.
Each prayer is caught by seaweed on the floor
and anchors itself deep beneath the sand.
The mermaids dig them up to use as bricks
and laugh at humans’ meaningless demands.
Tags: mermaids, poems, poetry, sarah fletcher
Wow.
Oof. I loved “bright-legged woman” and the last line was a real killer.
I’m a sucker for mermaid anything and this was GORGEOUS. I particularly love the second stanza, all the internal rhyme. Beautiful.
I'm a sucker for mermaid anything and this was GORGEOUS. I particularly love the second stanza, all the internal rhyme. Beautiful.
Yesss I want to memorize this poem. The accompanying picture is perfect.
Can we get sequel poems? Taking a Mermaid to Bible Study, Taking a Mermaid to a Church Potluck, Taking a Mermaid to a Stewardship Committee Meeting, that sort of thing?
Mermaid life significantly more interesting than all that “singing each to each” business had me believe. Lovely.
Yess, this is beautiful.
DUDE. The newborns line is great.
DUDE. The newborns line is great.
Beautiful, beautiful beautiful- want to memorize this bit
‘Each prayer is caught by seaweed on the floor
and anchors itself deep beneath the sand.
The mermaids dig them up to use as bricks
and laugh at humans’ meaningless demands.’
Please publish a little poetry volume. By which I mean, my god, this is stunning (but also, yes, please do).
Please publish a little poetry volume. By which I mean, my god, this is stunning (but also, yes, please do).
wonderful poem. Do you have a poetry site or published book? I want to read more of your work.