A Mermaid’s Song
Poughkeepsie, NY
2020, Junior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Above the great dark shining sea
Wretch the endless cries of man’s daily toil
I wish they would cry, not for themselves
But my dying world left in their moil
Here below the shining surface
Lie my sisters of song suffocated by garbage
I cry for aid, for an end of destruction
But nothing can conclude perpetual damage
Above, the distorted sun shines the sea
A hand reaching through, grasping for mine
Will they help us? Can they be trusted?
Are we able to save our world in time?
Through the shining surface I rise
Coming face to face, not with man but child
“I’ll save us all, there is hope,” she weeps
Perhaps she’s right, let’s not watch doom run wild
“New things above your shining sea
More trees, more air, less poisons—you’ll see
Wind power, solar panels, I promise,” says she
“Hope for a world for you and me.
Reflection
Reflection
My poem is from the point of view of a mermaid stuck in the darkness and desolation created by humanity's blindness toward the climate crisis. Specific emphasis is placed on the "shining" sea because from the perception of humans, who ignore the horror that lies beneath the surface, the sea is in no danger, and from above, appears to be thriving or "shining." However, this mermaid expresses the imminent threat to all inhabitants of the sea as a consequence of the centuries humans have spent polluting the ocean. She believes no hope is left until a human girl pulls her out and explains the potential solutions to climate change. This girl represents the young generation of our planet, for we are the ones who ultimately must take responsibility in creating change for ourselves and our children. These solutions are what bring me hope that one day, creatures of both the land and sea will be able to live in harmony, unafraid of climate disaster. I myself, after working on this project, will continue my work to reduce my carbon footprint and plastic pollution, and I will encourage those in my community to do so as well. This artistic expression of the ocean crisis is meant to convey that there is hope, if we only have the courage, like that girl, to create change and pull out of the darkness all creatures suffering as a result of humanity's failure to take care of our world.