Mermaid

I'm a mermaid

but I've sold my voice

for a pair of feet

that tend to bleed

when I go walking in the road

I'm a mermaid

but I've sold my voice

for a couple of feet

and they always bleed

when I go walking in these streets

and I once saw a most beautiful man

at the local record store

he bumped into me and said,

well excuse me, young ma'am,

but haven't I seen your pretty eyes somewhere before?

I smiled but gestured at my throat

to show that I was mute

well, he quickly looked down at the floor

and shuffled in his boots

he was out of there so fast

I'm a mermaid

but I've sold my voice

for a midnight train

and a bump of cocaine

and an old photo of ballets russes

I'm a mermaid

but I have sold my voice

for a bottle of gin

cause I can't swim

and I sure don't want to float

I was so lonely walking out of that store

and back into the busy people street

when overhead I heard an argument

a woman opened up her window, threw a flower pot from it

I was startled by the crash

but went over to find a little plant

I quickly emptied out my paper coffee cup and

adopted it

transplanted it

took it home and

named it mozart

I am a mermaid

but I've sold my voice

and I got rid of my tail

at a junkyard sale

along with some favorite childhood toys

I'm a mermaid

but I have sold my voice

for a couple of feet

that tend to bleed

when I go walking in the street...

I'm a mermaid

but I have sold my voice

for a couple of feet

and they always bleed

no matter how clean...