Lake Michigan mermaid

There is no salt in my tears
because I was born
beneath the moon in August freshwater
to a woman with hair as gold
as the burning innards of stars.

Two long legs, skin the pale
shade of sand at night,
and my thoughts always swim
ahead of me.

Silver beach, Lion's beach, Tiscornia
beach, Grand Mere, South Haven
beach, Secret beach--
          all form the slender neckline of the
          beating of my heart:
                              Lake Michigan.

The sun drowns in tired peace
each night and I must ask--
        have you walked the pier
        at the most vital moment: night?
        The whole universe above you
        and reflected below off the
        water, light lapping against
        the algae-furred pier, faint haze
        of the hint of Chicago.

I don't have shiny scales
but gills do line my heart
and when I step into the lake,
I slip into skin that has
touched stars and held the moon.

Author's Note

um, I've not posted anything in about a week... I'm uncertain about this one.

Reviews

[quinfinn]

let's dispense with your uncertainty here and now...i absolutely adore this write! the last two lines make my soul ache for that watery release that is the changling mermaid entering her true element. beautiful...there is a youtube clip on real mermaids and it is very convincing without seeming contrived, watched it this morning and was saddened and thrilled at the same time.

[eglantine]

phew, I'm glad you enjoyed it :) Yea, I have probably watched it. lol

[quinfinn]

the video had live video of them swimming and ended with the rotting body of a dead mermaid on the beach, so very sad, in fact.... tragic

[eglantine]

oh, ok I didn't see that one lol do you remember what it's called?

[quinfinn]

i have it on my f/b page, i'll go check...brb

[quinfinn]

sameen 115 real mermaids better belive it/youtube

[eglantine]

hahaha ok, imma check it out--thanks!

[quinfinn]

;)

[eglantine]

omg awesome! haha, psoted it on my fb :) thanks for sharing!

[quinfinn]

anytime....glad you found it

[beautiful dreamer]

why are you uncretain! its OHmazing! great write!"

[p.kuhl]

Hey, this is some great salty Michigan poetry. Love the last line a ton, and the imagery is really solid. Thanks for sharing!

[eglantine]

and thank you for reading :)

[Hold-B-Run-Faster]

It is a bit rough, but the imagery is pretty awesome, tangible, has a good scent to it. Wish I could help say what it needs, out of my technical realm, but I like it none the less. I like the idea of a heart that can't drown.

[eglantine]

thank you :)

[Leslie Philibert]

As a reviewer I am probably dull and predictable, but I will repeat myself. This is great poetry with loads of good things about it, the metaphorical line that works through but never repeats, a combination of the observed and the mystical, the perfect third verse with the use of the colon and the half line enjambement. I am a great fan of this poet,and she never lets the reader down...

[eglantine]

and thank you as always :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Good to be a mermaid. Lake Michigan is a beautiful lake. I need to take a trip to her and maybe see a mermaid? I enjoyed the poem. Lake Michigan hold many mysteries. Hold many records for largest fish. Thank you for sharing the entertaining poem.
Coyote

[eglantine]

yes, it is a beautiful lake

[Michael G. Smith]

I love the reminiscences in sentimentals. I grew up on Lake Michigan.

[The Nude Writer]

I think it is great :) although reading about swimming in a lake right now makes me feel rather cold =P I love your love for water :) very cool

[eglantine]

haha, thanks!

[The Nude Writer]

Well now its warming up :) its a little better :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, be certain...this is good...works on a couple levels for me...like an allegory..it does describe the mermaid in her element...

but it also describes the poet in his or her element.

mermaids can be misunderstood, they can even frighten...poets seem to do the same thing...

but when we swim within the words, we revel...we float blissfully...

our syllables are our gills and we breathe through them.

as usual, such good work.

i have walked the beaches in Chicago, on Lake Michigan...sat in wrigley field and watched the boats sailing on the lake.

but the salty water, yes, reminds me of Rye Beach and Coney Island in NY where i grew up...

ah memories sparked by reading poems...there is nostalgia in the words for me.

jacob

jacob

[eglantine]

Thank you very much

[Fréyjä Helv..]

Never been to Lake Michigan, though after reading this, it's like I felt that I have. Love the sort of mystic atmosphere to it. Deep and beautifully surreal...

[Rusty]

I have stood in South Haven just this year. I like the juxtapostion of this write.

[eglantine]

thanks!