Little Mermaid

Before the sun rises
she must
kill
kill
kill
him, they say,
before
she turns to foam.

We sheared
our crowning glories
for you
for you
(they say)
to kill
kill
kill him
(do it)

She thinks back

wrenched of her beautiful
(soul-shattering)
voice

for

knives down her
tail-become-legs,
the impossibility of return,
of betrayal
from love



But she cannot
cannot
do it.

For she still remembers
a stormy night
her first night on the surface
and saving him
saving him
from inundation
hauling his waterlogged body
singing into him life.

No, she cannot
cannot
do it

as she hurls the knife
to the sea
to her heart
jumping
flailing
falling

down
down
to the briny deep
blue
beyond blue
light
ascending to

light
becoming
air
daughter of
air
to one day
attain her heart's desire



a human soul.