How Mermaids Swim

  On the surface they flip their tails and porpoise downward.

  Under the water, their forms are all graceful curves and undulations.

  But we don't see many.  A few as illustrations in books or comics.

  In the odd movie, impersonated by a pert actress or cartoon character.

  The occasional roadside attraction in Florida or even in Montana.

  One even still and seated on a harbor rock inspecting us humans.

  Much more common is the young girl at the pool

  Her body puffed with water wings, who asks me

  If I'd like to see how mermaids swim. Who wouldn't?

  And so she demonstrates with a slow, determined doggie paddle

 While I wonder whether she might someday grow a tail then,

 Someplace far from shore, disappear into the deep ocean.