The Fisherman's Lament

Sailing across the ocean blue 

Singing shanties with my merry crew

We cast our nets into the briny waters

To provide for our wives, sons, and daughters.

But when are nets grew heavy and taut

We heaved them up to see what we caught.

And what did our accursed eyes behold?

Fish with scales that glistened like gold.

We cheered as our nets burst at the seams.

We were rich beyond our wildest dreams!

But my heart quickly sank to the sea floor

As I recalled the warning we got days before.

“Should you ever catch fishes of gold

Remember the ancient warnings of old:

Release them and don’t be slaves to greed

Lest you anger the Merfolk with a selfish deed.”

With heavy heart, I reminded my crew

Of the solemn warning from Old Ms. Rue.

They laughed and said, “It’s just an old wives tale!”

And our captain said, “Homeward we sail!”

I warned them that this was a foolish deed

But my voice was one they chose not to heed.

As they started to sail home with childish glee

A great shadow loomed below the surface of the sea.

I had a feeling that our judgment was near.

As the shadow got closer, I trembled with fear.

Then the winds howled like a woman in mourning,

The clouds grew dark and it started storming.

The fierce waves tossed our ship about,

This was the merfolk’s doing, no doubt.

“We must dump the fish back into the sea!”

But the winds howled so loudly, no one heard me.

A large figure burst through the raging waves

Ready to drag us down to our watery graves.

And who did our accursed eyes behold?

‘Twas the Mermaid Queen from tales of old!

Her skin was dark, her eyes were full of fire

Her long spear showed vengeance was her desire.

The cowry shells in her braids clattered together

As they billowed in the winds of the frightful weather.

My crewmates and captain cried out in terror

They realized too late their deadly error.

My captain grabbed the wheel in an attempt to steer

Away from the Mermaid Queen and her mighty spear.

I swear the queen scoffed and perhaps even chuckled.

When she raised her spear high, my knees buckled.

She stabbed the ship as a stork stabs a fish

Bloodshed was her aim, and she fulfilled that wish.

Whilst the fish leapt to the waters and took a dip

We were scattered like the wood splinters of our ship.

Some of us lost a limb, others lost two.

Today marked the end of our once merry crew.

I cried out in pain. “I said put the fish back!”

I hit the cold waters and everything went black

Water rushed into my lungs like a flood

I tasted the salty waters with a mix of our blood.

I should have died on that fateful day,

But I came to and saw that God had made a way.

Somehow, I had washed up on a sandy shore.

I was alive, though I didn’t know what for.

My captain and crewmates were not so blessed.

They lie in the sea’s depths, at peace, at rest.

That’s why I have this peg leg, so listen my son

Don’t anger the merfolk as we fools have done.