The Problematic Pen

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The Mermaid

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Aristeas Press

The Mermaid

Poem by J.M Elliott

Aug 17, 2022
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The Mermaid

jmelliott.substack.com
By Warwick Goble, from The book of fairy poetry, 1920, Public domain

Down by the seashore there lives a fair maid,
Only emerging at midnight and noon, 
Quietly singing her own serenade,
Combing her locks by the light of the moon. 

She lives all alone because that is her wish; 
Tangling her hair up with seaweed and pearls; 
She is not either a femme nor a fish; 
Certainly not just a commonplace girl!

She doesn’t walk as do those upon land;			
Neither with fish will she swim in the sea;	
Rather she’s happiest combing the strand;			
Perfectly suited between them to be…	

Basking on rocks in the spray she appears;	
Plunging through waters without a regret;		
Warning herself of her greatest of fears:			
Never be caught in some fisherman’s net!		

Halfway beneath the mysterious sea;			
Halfway above the most changeable tide;		
Half in a waking mind, half in a dream;			
Fully she lives in two worlds at one time. 

I found this poem in and old notebook. Is it embarrassing? Sure. Am I publishing it anyway? Absolutely!


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The Mermaid

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16 Comments
Daniel W. Davison
Writes Lamp Post in the Marsh
Aug 21, 2022Liked by J.M. Elliott

I don’t think it’s embarrassing. It’s lovely. When did you write it?

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1 reply by J.M. Elliott
LJK
Jan 15Liked by J.M. Elliott

Rhyme that's very lyrical and easy to read, all of it building a fantasy image that's as beautiful as the illustration here. Very nice. Glad you found and shared it!

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