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June 22, 2017

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Fairy Tale for Boys, Photography, Poetry

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Silver Song

Ottauquechee River

Will drops a berry in a stream.
It rolls and bounces along.
He thinks a dappled fish nibbles,
until he hears a silver song.

A young mermaid flutters,
rhinestone tears unshed.
She tastes the berry. Curls unfurl.
Fingers beckon. Lips curve red.

The reckless current ensnares,
and hot sunshine entrances.
Will drifts, touches berry-sweet lips,
and sinks beneath mermaid glances.

Beware the icy depths.
Beware the current strong.
Beware the sugared-lips
that sing the silver song.

Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham

Notes: Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks to Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe for hosting at the summer threshold.

Poetry Friday Heron

For the above, I was inspired by this couplet:

I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.

— William Butler Yeats, from The Song of Wandering Aengus, found in Poetry for Young Readers: William Butler Yeats, Sterling Publishing, 2002.

According to legend, Aengus is the god of love, youth and poetry. I thought about the fish, and if the fish had been a mermaid…

100 thoughts on “Silver Song”

  3. Hi!
    Nice post! I’m making posts about scientific explanations behinde everyday appearance, so if you have time and will please go and check it out! If you like it please follow me, I follow you.
    Thank you! 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Pingback: Silver Song: | By the Mighty Mumford

  6. I really enjoyed this story – a bit like a Brothers’ Grimm fairytale and the moral at the end. I thought it was skilfully and appropriately simply told and liked the image of “rhinestone tears”.

    Liked by 3 people

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  19. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh, those sugared lips! How, but how can I prepare my teen sons for a world of alluring mermaids? I used to think I had to protect my girls…that boys could take care of themselves more. I’m not so sure. Those beautiful girls have shadows, don’t they? Wonderful poem.

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. This made my imagination fly. I like that it felt like those old fairy tale picture books. I love how the rhythm, rhyme and word choice just marry perfectly. Mermaids, rhinestones, red lips, curls…all of it came alive in my head. I could see the artwork in my mind and its beautiful. You painted a wonderful picture with your words.

    Liked by 1 person

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  23. Hi, Brenda–wow, that is definitely a fairy tale, but not so very friendly! I love the way you capture Will’s capture with a slightly sinister air, even a touch of conspiracy: “sinks beneath mermaid glances.” What about writing it the other way too, in which HE captures her?

    Liked by 1 person

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  28. Beautiful imagination, Brenda. It reminds me of looking anywhere, and seeing what’s there for me! Love “Beware the sugared-lips/that sing the silver song.” These stories are such a lure.

    Liked by 1 person

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  31. sugared lips singing silvered songs are definitely something to be hesitant about, I agree. What a lovely lyrical poem you have treated us to today. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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