although a fishwife in a sense,

she does not barter fish for pence.

fisher of men, her golden nets

for foolish sailormen she sets.

all day she combs her hair and longs

for dimpled feet and curling-tongs.

all night she dreams in ocean caves

of low tide shoes and marcel waves.

and while the fishwife, making sales,

may sell her wares upon her scales,

the mermaid, wonderful to tell,

must wear her scales upon hersel'.