Forgotten Ground Regained
The Fairford Mermaid
They nailed her here, the fearful priestswho saw sin swim in the swell of her breasts,in the sweep of her seaweed hair. Herein wood they weighed her down, drowningin incense, beached on their Bible, agroundon the grain of centuries, chants and change.
on the grain of centuries, chants and change.Her sweet song, almost silenced, to a sighrendered still. ‘Misere – Mercy’: murmurmade marginal, banished from sea and sun.Dynasties of doctrine kept in check
but who netted whom? Whose nets were stronger?
Dragged ashore, she sang seduction,surged the sap with lithe enticement,strong enchantment, supple beauty,calls to share her comb and mirror,share the shore’s unbridled wave,share the recklessness of rocks,share the flying foam of freedom.
She sweeps her tail and scatters nails,from wood to wave she arcs unhindered,splintered prison left behind andthose who remain cannot escapeher song. Captured and abandoned, they pinefor the lure of the siren, mermaid, undine.
Originally published in Carrying Fire (bluechrome, 2006).
Copyright © Oz Hardwick, 2006
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