Helen in Egypt, Eidolon, Book III: 4
Helen herself seems almost ready for this sacrifice-at least, for the immolation of herself before this greatest love of Achilles, his dedication to 'his own ship' and the figurehead, 'an idol or eidolon . . . a mermaid, Thetis upon the prow.'
Did her eyes slant in the old way?
was she Greek or Egyptian?
had some Phoenician sailor wrought her?
was she oak-wood or cedar?
had she been cut from an awkward block
of ship-wood at the ship-builders,
and afterwards riveted there,
or had the prow itself been shaped
to her mermaid body,
curved to her mermaid hair?
was there a dash of paint
in the beginning, in the garment-fold,
did the blue afterwards wear away?
did they re-touch her arms, her shoulders?
did anyone touch her ever?
Had she other zealot and lover,
or did he alone worship her?
did she wear a girdle of sea-weed
or a painted crown? how often
did her high breasts meet the spray,
how often dive down?
poem by Hilda Doolittle
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Related quotes
My Ship and I
O it's I that am the captain of a tidy little ship,
Of a ship that goes a sailing on the pond;
And my ship it keeps a-turning all around and all about;
But when I'm a little older, I shall find the secret out
How to send my vessel sailing on beyond.
For I mean to grow a little as the dolly at the helm,
And the dolly I intend to come alive;
And with him beside to help me, it's a-sailing I shall go,
It's a-sailing on the water, when the jolly breezes blow
And the vessel goes a dive-dive-dive.
O it's then you'll see me sailing through the rushes and the reeds,
And you'll hear the water singing at the prow;
For beside the dolly sailor, I'm to voyage and explore,
To land upon the island where no dolly was before,
And to fire the penny cannon in the bow.
poem by Robert Louis Stevenson
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Catch
Big Boy came
Carrying a mermaid
On his shoulders
And the mermaid
Had her tail
Curved
Beneath his arm.
Being a fisher boy,
He’d found a fish
To carry—
Half fish,
Half girl
To marry.
poem by Langston Hughes
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Green Eyed Mermaid
There’s a green eyed mermaid
who lives deep in the sea,
she has a mermaid tail
all sparkly and bluish green.
At night with the light of moon,
her eyes turn more greenish blue.
But green mostly during the day,
her big eyes have specs of brown not grey,
She sits on the rocks to get a tan,
she uses her tail as a fan.
Her tail flaps, swish, swish, swish.
Then at night when all fishes asleep,
she goes to rocks again and has a peep.
She looks at moon and makes a wish,
she wishes a pirate would give her a kiss.
Then she see’s his ship come to shore,
she anxiously waits, wondering what’s in store.
Pirate lands, and spots green eyed mermaid’s eyes,
he becomes totally hypnotized.
Realizing he sealed his fate,
he kisses her and they sets a date.
A date is set to
A date is set to marry thee,
Yes, green eyed mermaid Melodie.
Then the both go to sea,
Melodie is now a human with legs,
Her pirate husband has one leg as peg.
Now they sail the seas,
Melodie is so happy she is free.
poem by Christina Sunrise
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Green Eyed Melodie Mermaıd
There’s a green eyed mermaid
who lives deep in the sea,
she has a mermaid tail
all sparkly and bluish green.
At night with the light of moon,
her eyes turn more greenish blue.
But green mostly during the day,
her big eyes have specs of brown not grey,
She sits on the rocks to get a tan,
she uses her tail as a fan.
Her tail flaps, swish, swish, swish,
swimming below is tiny fish.
Then at night when all fishes asleep,
she goes to rocks again and has a peep.
She looks at moon and makes a wish,
she wishes a pirate would give her a kiss.
Then she see’s his ship come to shore,
she anxiously waits, wondering what’s in store.
Pirate lands, and spots green eyed mermaid’s eyes,
he becomes totally hypnotized.
Realizing he sealed his fate,
he kisses her and they sets a date.
A date is set to
A date is set to marry thee,
Yes, green eyed mermaid Melodie.
Then the both go to sea,
Melodie is now a human with legs,
Her pirate husband has one leg as peg.
Now they sail the seas,
Melodie is so happy.
poem by Suzae Chevalier
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Demetrius and Antillia - The Final Demise of Atlantis
Demetrius and His Father, the Greek Fishermen were
gone fishing one hot Summer day,
when what to their eyes behold.
in a ship of solid gold
By the Trident of Neptune, A MERMAID!
Demetrius swam to her rescue
and escorted her back to his humble abode,
where He and his father were dining on the days catch.
Yet Antillia was a stubborn little mermaid.
Truth be told, she was a princess, and the Heir to the throne of Atlantis.
And she commandeered Demetrius Ship and set sail for home.
But Demetrius caught her just before she got away.
And was the ship captain.
'These Inventions of which you speak. SOrceries.'
'NO Demetrius, science.'
Yet that mattered not, under the full moon on the ocean sea, they fell in love.
She was a devious mermaid princess, and had a plan.
The Ship reached shore. The plan went off like clockwork.
Demetrius was taken prisoner and held in the dungeon.
Antillia ran to her father, King Kronas, Old Father Time.
And spoke of Demetrius to her father. YEt her father had become weak as a king and as a man.
Yet Demetrius was special. For he was foretold in the Writings of old.
Those Atlantean writings in the time before time of Atlantis.
And he survived, with his new friends.
The King and his noble court met.
One of his noblemen stood.
'Noblenem. Sire. Long before the founding of Atlantis it was written in the stars
that a greek fisherman would reach our shoures, and survive.
That prophecy is fulfilled. And that with this prophecy's fulfillment the final collapse of Atlantis woudl commence.
Our only hope to survie is to attack Greece and her allies and attack them soon.
Lest atlantis be destroyed.'
and all but one, the Priest of God called for war.
To no avail however.
Demetrius and his fellow slaves commandered the ship and returend to Greece, the land of peace,
His lady, Antillia, heiress to the Atlantean Throne, the would be Queen of Attlantis,
accompanied him, and gladly so.
Atlantis was destroyed in one day and one night.
Demetrius and ANtillia returned to Greece with the former atlantean slaves
Demetrius made her his queen. Not of an empire, yet of a lowly greek abode.
a small hut by the mediterranean.
They could not have been happier.
they had many children.
they were so happy.
poem by Psychobillyrogue 312
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How’s My Boy?
“HO, Sailor of the sea!
How’s my boy—my boy?”
“What’s your boy’s name, good wife,
And in what good ship sail'd he?”
“My boy John— He that went to sea—
What care I for the ship, sailor?
My boy's my boy to me.
“You come back from sea,
And not know my John?
I might as well have ask’d some landsman
Yonder down in the town.
There ’s not an ass in all the parish
But he knows my John.
“How’s my boy—my boy?
And unless you let me know
I’ll swear you are no sailor,
Blue jacket or no,
Brass buttons or no, sailor,
Anchor and crown or no!
Sure his ship was the ‘Jolly Briton’”—
“Speak low, woman, speak low!”
“And why should I speak low, sailor,
About my own boy John?
If I was loud as I am proud
I’d sing him over the town!
Why should I speak low, sailor?”
“That good ship went down.”
“How’s my boy—my boy?
What care I for the ship, sailor?
I was never aboard her.
Be she afloat or be she aground,
Sinking or swimming, I’ll be bound,
Her owners can afford her!
I say, how’s my John?”
“Every man on board went down,
Every man aboard her.”
“How’s my boy—my boy?
What care I for the men, sailor?
I’m not their mother—
How’s my boy—my boy?
Tell me of him and no other!
How ’s my boy—my boy?”
poem by Sydney Thompson Dobell
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The Little Mermaid
The sun shone brightly in the sky,
Crowned with a rainbow there,
While seagulls boldly chose to fly,
As if without a care...
As clouds rolled by ablaze with light,
A ship sailed to the shore,
Above the waves both blue and white
That danced forever more...
Below the waves where dolphins leapt,
Triumphant full of glee,
The little mermaid's dreams were kept
And nestled tenderly...
Her Father's Kingdom full of grace
And wonders rarely known
Were not enough to take the place
Of dreams she called her own...
The little mermaid made her way,
From water to the land,
Where one man took her breath away
The day he held her hand...
Two beating hearts were now as one,
With joy more than enough,
Beneath God's brilliant golden sun,
Where lovers fall in love...
The young man smiled, for he had found,
A treasure trove divine,
More beautiful than all around,
In her, his Valentine...
The little mermaid's dreams came true,
He kissed her once, then twice,
The day he told her, 'I love you! '
Was simply Paradise...
Denis Martindale, copyright, May 2012.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Thomas Kinkade called 'The Little Mermaid'.
The Disney art paintings are on the website:
thomaskinkade-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
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A Mermaid On A Dolphin's Back
It was midnight and our ship was in mid-sea,
All were asleep, none there on deck except me.
The sound of the sea water, blowing wind I heard,
I was thinking then, when to go homeward!
Suddenly a musical note passed into in my ear,
Dulcet I might call it, but that put me in fear.
In the semi darkness, I noticed a very queer scene,
A mermaid with half fish body sitting on a dolphin!
A gossamer robe was on her glossy fair skin,
Glyptic band on her golden hair was vividly seen.
They rose up and down and almost touched a rack,
She was the beautiful mermaid, on the dolphin's back!
They were whispering in a very low sound,
I could hear as, there was no roaring waves around!
Her long cloudy locks were swaying in cool air,
Dumb stuck I stood as there was no crew to share!
The mermaid with her fish like bright, tinkle fin,
Embraced earnestly the neck of the cute dolphin!
The moon was walking, with his shiny silver shoon,
The flakes of the clouds wrapped the moving moon.
The sky then got covered with a gauzy dark shroud!
They dived into the sea, remained, the sea kissing cloud!
By Nilakshi Das
poem by Nilakshi Das
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Mermaid
Hey when I was a lad in fishing town an old man said to me
You can spend your life your jolly life just sailing on the sea
Now you can search the world for pretty girls till your eyes are weak and dim
But don't go swimming with the mermaid son if you don't know how to swim
If you don't know how to swim
For her hair is green as seaweed and her skin is blue and pale
And I tell you now before you start you can love that girl with all your heart
But you're just gonna love the upper part you're not gonna like the tail
So I signed onto a whaling ship and my very first day at sea
I seen a mermaid in the waves reaching out to me
Come live with me in the sea said she and down on the ocean's floor
I'll show you a million wonderous things you never seen before
Oh you never seen before
So over I jumped and she pulled me down down to her seaweed bed
And the pillow made of tortoise shell she placed beneath my head
She fed me shrimps and caviar upon the silver dish
From her head to her waist she was my taste but the bottom part was a fish
Oh her bottom part was a fish
Oh her hair were green as seaweed her eyes were blue and pale
And I loved that girl with all my heart I vowed we'd never part
But I knew the back was not too smart cause I did not like the tail
And then one day when I looked up I saw a sailin' ship
And I met the stare of a millionaire out on a fishing trip
A diamond ring he tied to a string and lowered it down to the water
And my love divine she went for his line and that was the way he caught her
Yes that was the way he caught her
So I sat and cried to the tide same to the clams and whales
How I missed my love her seaweed hair and the silvery shine of her scales.
Just then her sister swam on by, and set my heart awhirl
For her upper part was an ugly old fish but the bottom part was girl
Yes the bottom part was girl
Yes her knees are pink and rosy and her toes are small and frail
Her body it's a work of art and I love that girl with all my heart
And I don't give a damn about the upper part and that's how I end my tale
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
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Royal Art And Music Fest
At the Royal Palm Art and Music fest,
I really felt I did my best.
Opal octopus, Majesty mermaid and Sarah Star
I painted and it was best challenge by far.
The square was a little small but still O.K.
I painted three characters, just not Melodie Mezoree’.
Then I as the public would say,
I had to “Change it Up” that day,
from the front cover of “Melodie’s Mermaid Birthday”.
That was O.K. I did finish
Opal’s birthday party by sundown,
She was happy she received a birthday crown.
Now I can make at least 3 characters big in a 4’ x 6’ square,
Thank you Mary Lou for inviting me here,
I'm glad you gave me this opputunity to paint
what I cherish so dear.
Written by Suzae Chevalier on April 7,2011
poem by Suzae Chevalier
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Homeland Africa
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi
Down the ocean a ship comes sailing through the waves
Filled with hundreds of men they take as slaves
Just long for their true homeland africa
And to be saved they want to be free
Men women and babyslaves
Coming to the land of liberty, liberty
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi...
They are tired of waiting for a brand new day
Some of them sing and chant some of them pray
And some men got a little tired too
No one knows if the journey pay
Men women and babyslaves
Coming to the land of liberty, liberty
Ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi ship ahoi...
song performed by by Boney M.
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Battle Cup
Three miles off the coast of beirut
New jerseys guns get ready to shoot
Take a walk down the firing room
Fire one its shakedown cruise
Battle ship battle ship
See the sailor boys dressed in blue
Cheer the change to make the news
Send the shell down the spiral groove
Bombs away its a shakedown cruise yeah
Battle ship battle ship
song performed by by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Battle Ship
Three miles off the coast of Beirut
New Jersey's guns get ready to shoot
Take a walk down the firing room
Fire one it's shakedown cruise
Battle ship battle ship
See the sailor boys dressed in blue
Cheer the change to make the news
Send the shell down the spiral groove
Bombs away it's a shakedown cruise Yeah
Battle ship battle ship
song performed by by Red Hot Chili Peppers from Freaky Styley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mermaid Kiss
Why am I jealous
Of the wind.
When we are supposed to be free.
When sweet sky
Blows my mind
With a new sunset,
Take me out to sea.
And rock me in the arms
Of a salty dream.
Lock me in the charms
Of a blue moonbeam.
And a Mermaid kiss.
Why am I imprisoned
When I see
Wild horses run.
Ambition,
Now wizened,
Cools in my evening sun.
So take me
On a stardust flight.
Rake me
Embers of the night,
To sit beside
And warm my heart.
To fly away,
That fiery dart
Of love my guide.
To a different dawn.
I can be reborn
From a rainbow
When my tears have dried.
Where new horizons
Paint the sea.
And gardenia wafts on breeze
To me.
My soul just aches for this.
And a Mermaid kiss.
poem by Kevin East
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Rich Sailor
Fought by the rich, a sailor has a ship
So awkward that he is richer than the clip.
A father mastered his flag much like a master,
The mast of a ship is like that of an abandoner.
Fought by some the sea is a place of sequences,
The waves undulate like curtains and offences.
The walls of a ship work like oars and paddles,
Then shapes and squares appear with angles.
poem by Naveed Akram
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I Am (Mermaid)
I am a magical mermaid swimming in the tropical sea.
I wonder what new adventures each day will bring.
I hear happy dolphins chattering while they leap into the air.
I see the golden sunset sparkling on the water's rippling surface.
I want to live in this paradise forever.
I am a magical mermaid swimming in the tropical sea.
I pretend I am queen of the ocean, and all its creatures are my loyal subjects.
I feel the turquoise water cooling my skin.
I touch round, milky-white pearls and swirling light-pink seashells.
I worry that the beautiful ocean will soon become an ugly mess of filth and toxins.
I cry when I see careless humans destroying my home.
I am a magical mermaid swimming in the tropical sea.
I understand the hypnotic songs of crooning blue whales.
I say that the ocean is the prettiest place in the whole world.
I dream of swimming with sea turtles, finding treasure on ancient sunken galleons.
I try to live every moment to the fullest.
I hope all forms of pollution will soon come to an end.
I am a magical mermaid swimming in the tropical sea.
poem by Kimberly Kastner
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Royal Art And Music Fest
At the Royal Palm Art and Music fest,
I really felt I did my best.
Opal octopus, Majesty mermaid and Sarah Star
I painted and it was best challenge by far.
The square was a little small but still O.K.
I painted three characters, just not Melodie Mezoree’.
Then I as the public would say,
I had to “Change it Up” that day,
from the front cover of “Melodie’s Mermaid Birthday”.
That was O.K. I did finish
Opal’s birthday party by sundown,
She was happy she received a birthday crown.
Now I can make at least 3 characters big in a 4’ x 6’ square,
I will come up with something totally different next year.
Written by Suzae Chevalier on April 7,2011
poem by Christina Sunrise
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Song Of The Mermaid
On a day of days
I stood and gazed
Over the western sea
I was completely dazed,
Wide-mouthed and amazed
When a mermaid called to me
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Like a man in a dream,
For an age it seemed
I stood as still as a stone
While the mermaid sang
And her melody rang
Like a memory calling me home
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Then the sea and the wind
And the shores did spin
And though my resistance was strong
All the stars in space
Filled the mermaids face
As she captured my will with her song
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Somehow I spoke --
The enchantment broke
I rubbed my eyes open wide
Like a dream she was gone
All that remained was a song
Borne on the ebbing tide
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
Ooh-ooooh ooooooooooh, my sunny sailor boy
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mermaid In The Night
Mermaid in the night
By: roger guth, jay oliver
1989
I went out fishin on a sandy beach
Cast my line out as far as it would reach
Lookin for somethin for the fryin pan
I kick back with a beer in my hand
I mustve got a big one cause its bendin my pole
Im havin to fight just to keep control
It could be a whale God only knows
Whatever it is its not wearin any clothes
Chorus:
Shes larger than life
Made from holy water
Shes covered in green and got
Little scales upon her
Shes larger than life
Shea a mermaid in the night
Shes got a set of gills like no fish Ive ever seen
Long blond hair and a tail in between
Im in love with a creature from the sea
She brings out the crustacean in me
Her voice is a temptation its a siren song
When we kiss there can be no wrong
I ask her to marry me and be my wife
Do the backstroke the rest of our lives
Chorus:
Shes larger than life
Made from holy water
Shes covered in green
Shes got little scales upon her
Shes larger than life
Shes a mermaid in the night
Shes larger than life
Made from holy water
Shes covered in green and got
Little scales upon her
Shes larger than life
Shes a mermaid in the night
Mermaid in the night
Little mermaid in the night
-- spoken:
I think Ill have the catch of the day
song performed by by Jimmy Buffett
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Mermaid (Quatern Poetry)
In the Red Sea, you were my lonely king of salt,
You were my beautiful statue made of basalt.
On the sea shore, dominating the yellow land,
You were my statue representing the king of sand.
Your body was looking as it was tattooed with smalt.
In the Red Sea, you were my lonely king of salt.
At the water high waves' mobile horizon
I was a mermaid, caught in your love's prison.
I swam to the surface, sometimes, to see you.
You were on your ship, at the dawn's purplish blue.
In the Red Sea, you were my lonely king of salt.
I had your beautiful statue, made of basalt.
I paid to get rid off my tail and to become a woman,
Because I wanted you to be my lover and my man.
You disappeared and your wreck was anchored in Galt,
In the Red Sea, you’re my lonely king of salt.
poem by Marieta Maglas
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