Swimming With Mermen

Mourning clang of sea bell,

Black bouy number ten

Marks open seastead for sailor,

Promising voyage.

Imagine satin-scaled mermen,

Tumbling muscles of fin,

Arms like wet sea shell, singing,

All the world in their eyes.

Read between the waves.

I know the risk but

Forever I've waited

For this crossroad:

Long dive from bowsprit,

Sweet-wailing past sea smoke to spume.

Zero moment point.

I, the only mermaid,

Swimming with mermen.

To read more nautical poetry: No Name Harbor, Poetry of Barbary Chaapel

To read the story of our 7 1/2 years of living aboard a thirty foot sailboat: Journey of the Snow Goose

For Appalachian poetry: Estuary, Poetry of Barbary Chaapel

photos and book ordering information: http://barbarychaapel.eveusa.com

Barbary Chaapel is the Sailing Editor for Wandering Educators