Look at her hair, I whisper, green
With envy at her auburn curls.
They spread, those mermaid’s tresses seen
On Titian’s Venus, bathing girl.
She sprawls, she basks, she swims ahead,
To shallow, lime green water bays.
I gaze as she lays down her head
On sea-weed beds where sea-sprites play.
I watch as she lays down her head
On sea-weed beds where sea-sprites play.
Her glist’ning skin, I need to feel
That pearlised glow, that olive sheen.
She bathes, that graceful, lengthened seal
And I conceive her eyes of green.
Their shades of em’ralds, shades of teal.
Long lashes, droplets clinging fast
What things she knows, what things she feels
Of future, present, sea-times past.
But radiant mer-girl disappears,
Without goodbyes.Takes to the waves.
Bereft, I view her head that rears
As dolphin-like she leaps.I save
Her hair of auburn, eyes so bright
For later date, I’ve memorised.
I’ll draw, inspired by her sweet sight,
I’ll paint her curves.Her hair.Her eyes.
To draw, inspired by her sweet sight,
To paint her curves.Her hair.Her eyes.
Her piscine curves, no legs apart
Just incandescent tail of jade.
Its scales will shimmer from my art
I must not let her image fade.
Sea-green, sea-green, those wicked waves
That upped and took the girl to sea.
I hate them for the help they gave.
And wished she’d stayed to swim with me.
I hate them for the help they gave.
And wished she’d stayed to swim with me.
