To believe in a mermaid
by poetrydiary
The first line of this poem comes from “To believe in mermaids” by Donald Harbour, and is a first experiment in linking with others, prompted by We Write Poems Prompt #34
To believe in a mermaid
is to create waves that brush the rocks,
and gently rock the boat –
at first only at night, in the silence of the small hours,
and smallness of your room.
The waves that brush the rocks,
wash away memories and worry cracks,
seeping into pools, bubbling,
and outlasting tides, trap shimmered scales in sunlight,
averting eyes and tempting glances.
Shimmering scales refract
sky and sun and air, distorting perceptions,
drawing on and in and out.
And suddenly there are new relationships –
the vastness of the world.
To believe in a mermaid,
is a start.
©2010 Matthew Rhodes
poetry diary 
There is such a sense of emergence. Many good lines!
Thank you Irene
Beautiful poem, beautiful language and imagery. To believe in anything outside of and beyond self is always to begin the journey, toward life, toward living. Thank you,
Elizabeth
Thnaks Elizabeth – It’s a very simple poem really and I’m pleased you understand it. I like to start like this with a line or idea and just see where it goes – your understanding of my words reflects how I feel at the moment.
I think I glimpsed the mermaid in your words. Beautiful and vivid descriptions of the ephemeral.
You are very kind! Thanks.