Fish Tale

I met a mermaid when I fell
into the sea from listing boat;
when I was passing twenty leagues
I figured that was all she wrote.

But then my mermaid swam to me
within the south Pacific flow;
she was a Venus up above,
yet scaly fishtail down below.

Her auburn hair flowed full and free
as beauty’s half knew not of quit;
below the waves I pawed along
and tried to stay abreast of it.

There was a pause in deep allure
when we saw seven octopi;
she shook her tail at tentacle,
and then the seven swam on by.

  “O mermaid, mermaid I declare,
    you are the rhythm of a song;
    how fortunate for me I fell
    into your arms when list was long.”

When I was rescued from the sea,
I told my story with a laugh;
I eyed my mermaid in the deep,
but focused on the better half.


[Rhythm: 8]  (Lines: 24)
PAD  September 10, 2012