Small Mermaid, Showered With Roses

was she surprised to find on deck near the harbours
suddenly, the rose petaled winds?
am I crowned with flowers then

being this near, Land? she wondered;
still in the hours she hoped to win his heart,
poor mermaid, drifting on different

currents now.
soon would they rise, to overwhelm.

this instant, she remains in bliss
embroidering roses on all the mists...
and her invisible singing took on an

overlay of bells, heard far away.

why are they ringing then
she was heard to say
when no one has died?

in dreams, in underwater speech
since everything else was out of reach- 
is happiness on its way-

mary angela douglas 27 december 2015