Fable of the Mermaid and the Starbuckers
All these Starbuckers were there inside
When she entered, nude.
She came from the East River,
She lost her way. Eyes came from faraway.
Wended her way between hookers and bucks.
No one noticed. Who was she?
Glided into Starbucks.
Did they see?
Gray faces, gray tables
White spaces, gray fables
Smell of coffee, smell of money
Ringtone tinkled Lovely Rita
Someone seeking Goddess Sita?
Fingers tapped Blueberry
Brains blogged Strawberry
Twitter blogged I-phone
Tarragonswiss gelatocone
Pointy heads cyberspace
MySpace YourSpace
Beyond time and face
Eyes glazed laptop
Educated—Stop and Shop
Eyes—Wi-fied
Viral infection since July
Did they see?
No one asked
Who was she?
She did not know tears
She did not weep
She did not know dreams
She dared not sleep
She tried, tried to imagine
A pirouette
Did she forget
Did she forget
She did not know words
She did not speak
Eyes were birds
White and meek
Arms were topaz
Lips—coral light
Eyes were birds
Stripped in flight
Silence twined her glistening flesh
Blindness blanked her golden breast
Glided by
Who was she
No one noticed
Did they see
Suddenly, she left by that door.
She entered the river, gleaming
A white stone in the rain
Only hearing her refrain
Without a backward glance
She drew a breath
Swam toward never
Swam toward death