mermaids (littlest and not)

her tongue had been cut out,
forcing her to dance to win his love.
her shining finned tail split to smooth
and slender legs. the siren's voice
stilled with which she hoped to charm him,
now only form and rhythm left and visual
arts - not enough. her golden hair
floating as she twirled, a slim, graceful,
curving shape. still, it was sound
he chose, loving more with his ears than
with his eyes. she danced back to foam
as he embraced his more vocal bride.

perplexed with the opposite dilemma,
i write and call you, charm your vagrant
thoughts with words. you turn to faces
glistening in your sight, long hair, silk
thighs to touch, while far away as if
a blind had draped me, this siren voice
fades from your distant ears.

Copyright © Kim Hodges
July 1995

"Salacious Poem..."
"palm reading: fate line"
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