John Berryman 1914-72 was a major figure in American poetry in the second half of the 20th century and was considered a key figure in the Confessional School of Poetry, his best known work is Dream Songs.
we could all build bird nests in our hearts
we could all open state parks in our souls
we could all end the suffering
just letting sunshine roll
we could all tend the garden
drink tea with friends at 4
we could all be a little kinder
that’s no stranger at your door
we could learn to listen
we could remember to breathe
love to you my brothers
may all your pangs be relieved
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.