i am his mermaid
i swim the sea
by where he sleeps
peering out of
the salty
water
towards his
home
for a glimpse
of land life
i am a mermaid whom
wants to be
that land lubbers
wife
i have no legs
i do not walk
and the cold water
numbs my back
pain
as buoyancy holds
me up
i will not fail
but keep eating
and working and
sleeping and
dreaming
for sunil
for my children
for their children
i will swim strong
to bring along
all that I am
his weirdo ma'am
where we are free
skinny dipping
breasts dripping
with sodium chloride
where i will hide
when my pain is
too much
to stand
i'll swim
there by him
in a fantasy land.