Inspired by a conversation with a child wishing to be a mermaid, this is 'Willow', the fourth poem in our Poetry Spotlight series written by Bethan Laurels.

 

Willow

Call, call

I can hear you call

As their soul lifts with the breeze

And shelters from the seas

 

Willow

Willow

Cradling earth

With veins routing life

 

Your tresses of leaves

Skip the grasses

Waltz with the breeze

Bathe in the rivers

Catch the stream down to the sea

In the tune of the breaking ocean waves

Curling with the hair of pirouetting mermaids

 

Willow

Willow

Your golden skins

Blaze with the sun and moon

Beam in the glow of the mermaids woo

 

Willow

Willow

You exhale the wealth and wisdom of the skies

Where the clouds blossom

Stars dive and planets dance

Shadow and light circle the visions of creatures eyes

 

You inhale the untamed depths of the seas

As mermaids flirt with the currents they pull and push aside

Stirring the rise and fall of the tides

Tales of the waters thirsting for their tongue

To be kissed and curled

To become their song

 

Willow

Willow

Mother

Daughter

Of land and sea

 

Bethan says:

"The simple and lovely delights of a young girl I met; Willow. She told me how she wanted to be a mermaid. What else could I do except write her a poem? So I did."