Mermaid Poem by Dandelion De La Rue

Mermaids were often featured in the decoration of Medieval churches, particularly in the British Isles. Often shown holding a comb and mirror, mermaids not only embodied the sins of pride and vanity, but were also often used to represent the sin of lust. Images of mermaids holding a fish or starfish were used to represent a Christian soul that had been lost to the deadly sin of lust, and were placed in churches to warn churchgoers not to be seduced by such evils

I immediately thought of J. Alfred Prufrock and how sorry he was because he didn’t think the mermaids would sing to him, well, of course not, he was too careful. So I wrote this poem. I’m not sure its publishable because Prufrock and Zorba aren’t household words anymore. Prufrock always reminded me of one of my grandfathers.

 

For the Love of the Merpeople

 

The mermaids sang

to lusty Zorba

I am sure, but not to

Prufrock, so he said,

he of tiny

dibs and dabs

of life, drizzled on

his plate with tiny

spoons.

 

Did he regret

what he had missed?

I think he did.

I see him sadly

staring at the waves,

hoping for

a second chance,

but fearing,

ever fearing,

nearly everything.

 

I see so

many Prufrocks

on the news,

they’re so afraid

of getting hurt

and so afraid

of life without

insurance.

 

But those who

guzzle life

from gallon jugs,

I think the

mermaids love them.