Mermaid
by
Matt Zurbo
Imagine if a mermaid
found a way to get about on land.
Oh gee, oh my, oh well,
wouldn’t life be grand?
Roaming grassy hills
as if they were the sea,
just the mermaid, and you,
being glad and free.
Maybe even both of you
could join a banjo band,
where you alone could be
her helping banjo hand.
Some might not be happy,
no, not one little bit!
They might rage and yell,
while burning fiery sticks!
“She sang,” they’d protest,
“wrecked our ship on a reef!”
“Ate Frederic and Wilma,
and poor little Keith!”
“But what if the legends,” you’d ask,
“simply were not true?”
“What if sea Gods and bad weather
did those things to you?”
But the rowdy mob,
in their horrible haste,
would beckon a Viking
to take up the chase.
Just as the Viking was set
to bring down her axe,
you’d give her a hammock,
and teach her to relax.
All the mermaid would want
would be to explore,
find the everyday wonder,
in snow and lolly stores.
Until, gratefully, she’d sing;
“Now it’s your turn, please sit”,
and together you’d take to her world,
and the mysteries in it
(kid sitting in emptied bath, floating on ocean)
Protected by a Viking,
and one or two nice folks,
plucking on their banjos,
using old rafts as boats.
Please don’t get me wrong,
there’d still be adventures ahead!
Wild seas, giant squids,
dragons determined to be fed!
But, also, there’d be flying fish,
coral reefs,
the awe of the deep,
the mermaid’s winding songs,
memories to keep.
Until, one clear night,
gazing up at the stars,
she quietly cooed to you;
“Why don’t we explore Mars…”
“And, beyond that,” you’d agree.
“Let’s try the Milky Way!”
Any place where dreams
and romance hold sway.
Imagine that, if you will;
a mermaid and you,
roaming the land,
sea and stars,
with a banjo or two.
The End
365 kids books in 365 days 