Mermaids were often featured in the decoration of Medieval churches, particularly in the British Isles. Often shown holding a comb and mirror, mermaids not only embodied the sins of pride and vanity, but were also often used to represent the sin of lust. Images of mermaids holding a fish or starfish were used to represent a Christian soul that had been lost to the deadly sin of lust, and were placed in churches to warn churchgoers not to be seduced by such evils
I immediately thought of J. Alfred Prufrock and how sorry he was because he didn’t think the mermaids would sing to him, well, of course not, he was too careful. So I wrote this poem. I’m not sure its publishable because Prufrock and Zorba aren’t household words anymore. Prufrock always reminded me of one of my grandfathers.
For the Love of the Merpeople
The mermaids sang
to lusty Zorba
I am sure, but not to
Prufrock, so he said,
he of tiny
dibs and dabs
of life, drizzled on
his plate with tiny
spoons.
Did he regret
what he had missed?
I think he did.
I see him sadly
staring at the waves,
hoping for
a second chance,
but fearing,
ever fearing,
nearly everything.
I see so
many Prufrocks
on the news,
they’re so afraid
of getting hurt
and so afraid
of life without
insurance.
But those who
guzzle life
from gallon jugs,
I think the
mermaids love them.