Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MERMAID, by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING Poet's Biography First Line: Sweet mermaid of the incomparable eyes Last Line: Oh, no. By jove! There comes the white hippocampus. Alternate Author Name(s): King, Ben Subject(s): Mermaids & Mermen; Sea; Sea Monsters; Ocean; Sea Serpents | ||||||||
Sweet mermaid of the incomparable eyes, Surpassing glimpses of the April skies. Thy form, ah, maid of the billowy deep! So rare and fair, but to possess I'd creep Where the old octopus deep in his briny haunts Comes forth to feed on anything he wants; Where mollusks crawl and cuttlefish entwine, There on crustaceans be content to dine. What ecstacies in some calcareous valley, Had I but scales like thee 'tis there we'd dally, There seek each peak and let no other bliss Be more enchanting than one salt-sea kiss; There sit and bask in love, and sigh, and feel Each other's fins throb, or perhaps we'd steal To some lone cavern. I suppose you know a Place where we could pluck the polyzoa, Or in your boudoir by your mirror there I'd comb the seaweed from your auburn hair. But hush! A red-haired mermaid sister comes this way, And lashing with her tail the wavelets into spray. Cometh she alone o'er yonder watery pampas? Oh, no. By Jove! There comes the white hippocampus. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TIDE TURNING by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS ANOTHER COUNTRY by MARGE PIERCY SUICIDES by ELLEN BRYANT VOIGT THE SEALS IN PENOBSCOT BAY by DANIEL GERARD HOFFMAN ADVICE TO A PROPHET by RICHARD WILBUR MOUNTAIN WIND by GERTRUDE B. GUNDERSON THE PESSIMIST by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING |
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