C.J. Birch

Photo:  Helen Ree – http://www.helenree.com

The thousand-yard stare that speaks of reason.

A defiance in defence of life.

Mermaids do not question defence when it serves purpose.

That is why they still have their tails.

Should you wish to ride the high tide – her waves – you may ask.

She may say no. She may not.

That is a mermaid’s prerogative.

Mermaids are good friends with predators.

The Seven Sirens favour mermaids.

That is their prerogative, it is not nepotism – or favouritism.

Mermaids do not have sisterhood issues,

nor do they rely on brotherhood sustenance. They swim free.

The past blurs, when mermaids turn.

That is their way. They know how deep the oceans go.

That said, there is not often time for turning.

Mermaids have yet to find Poseidon.

Photo:  Helen Ree

She comes inshore when the moon’s illumination is phosphorescent.

She is ashore, beside the tide of life, counting crests.

She marvels at their perpetual return journey:

like one would marvel at a satellite mapping souls.

Mermaids have souls,

Naturally the progeny of the God Poseidon

and his Trident,

breathing underwater is the least of their talents.

Skills, gills, they all serve purpose.

Like nothing happens without a good reason not to.

Mermaids prefer sun-fish, lightly fried.

Sushi is good on Tuesdays.

Sirens are fond of reason.

Mermaids are pragmatic.

They know oysters grow pearls –

and that is their best talent.

During the course of my experiments with this and that, I have realised that the weight of the baggage we carry far exceeds its need, which is to perform the temporary service of anchoring us in the past. It is very important to anchor. Where exactly you anchor is not of consequence – no place is necessarily a bad place, one is just better than the other.

Baggage is therefore that which holds us back. It needs to be carefully measured and kept where necessary. It must also be parted with, where necessary. That is a fine line. It is not easy to find a perfect balance, but it is possible. It depends on how you do your measuring. It can be helpful to measure in suffering when you find yourself at a loss. When you can understand suffering, you can then get rid of it. Suffering is suffering. We all know how to spell that word.

There will inevitably be bits of residual baggage left, even when you take the time to sort through the shit and discard the wasted pain. That is what is not necessary to keep. There is not a day likely – on this planet – that pain will not be visited upon something, someone, somewhere. The best we can do is make the best of bad situation. The most effective method of doing that is by making the situation better. That is not hard. War might well be the Father of All, but it, too, has a sell-by date. There are other ways to assert yourselves, your might. And let’s face it – there are more than five mighty powers out there.