A Mermaid Tells of the Sea Above the Sky

As soon as I opened my new astronomy book,
I skipped ahead to the section called The Sea Above the Sky.

What was the draw for me? It was most likely curiosity.
It appeared that fear propelled the deepening of this mystery,
and the touch of the daytime sky teased back so much more softly.

There was a great vessel riding along an aerial sea,
and many men and women drowned because of the vessel’s faulty anchor.
Was it the anchor failing that propelled them overboard?
Could any of them swim and find their way back home?
This ending felt to be no ending for me, and yet the newspapers sold even more copies.

I wished I could say, let’s forget the vessel with its faulty anchor after all.
My skin is nourished by sea salt, 
and the water infuses my hair with flourishing sea fruits, too 
until my hair dries into loose, wind-turned 
waves, eventually, eventually,
and then I am shimmering brightly enough 
to have me found much more easily.
I’d like to think my nourished lips 
would not even make a sound, 
so beautifully…

It is the science in this book 
that keeps me grounded,
and it’s the myth that has me listen…
I am stunned as I wonder about whole planets 
turning on their whim;
Could whole planets slip off the sky on their own, 
and where would they go?

When it comes down to it, I’d wish myself 
to be seen again in some way
Sailing and smiling upon The Sea Above the Sky,

Or maybe just the sound of my footsteps strolling along the sea
could be heard as little chimes and bells from very far away,
and maybe the sound of my laughter from a distance 
could tell fully of the blissfulness of being found upon The Sea Above the Sky…

I wish I could tell all those earthbound 
who are closely reading their newspapers that it really is okay here:
You simply feel your body rise along with a little of your own curiosity
and with a touch of sensibility, and with your toes,
you step new iridescent colors, with dappled light 
onto the surface of the sea, 
as it deepens, becomes more true, and you sail…

Jade Nicole Beals is a writer and painter living in Massachusetts. She is the author of two books of poetry, Moonflower and A Little Honey Sweetens the Flame. She blogs at jadenicoleartiste.wordpress.com.