Short Fishtail Poems

There once was a mermaid named Lily
Who wanted a life that was frilly
   She made a rash wish
   To not be a fish
With those fishtail legs she looks silly...

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A clear beautiful June night
barely a sound at ocean’s edge
beach finally quiet, I could almost
hear my footsteps sliding in the sand.

Loud splash got my attention
flash of opalescent fishtail
had that been a lady or a vision?
a mermaid here?

Imagination or reality?
midnight moonlight’s trick?
illuminating the circles of the dive
the ocean’s mirrors smiled, keeping her secrets.




Written 9-25-2019
Contest: Mermaids
Sponsor: Line Gauthier...

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- A catfish, a catfish!
- It’s not.
- Why?
- It’s a king of catfishes! Good for you. Ok, put its Majesty in the boat.
The boat is anchored at the edge of the shallow water.
I, seven years old, knee-deep in water, drag my first big catfish, holding its slimy gills in my arms raised over my head, but the fishtail feels the water and, having knocked me down with a powerful strike, the king legs it…
I grew up, I caught a lot of kings, but even on the brink of death I will feel the chagrin....

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