For ten long years

She was lost at land

Constantly dreaming

Of ocean and sand

The sea it called to her

Every single night

But she only heard whispers

Too far out of sight

She planned to go back

But the land was like glue

Holding her tight

A force she had to undo

Her fins where so dry

She wasn’t sure they’d still work

She was getting worried

She’d lost that part of her

The people of her village

They didn’t understand

Why she kept going on

About the sea and the sand

“Why would you leave?”

They would always ask

She’d answer, “It is my home and I must go back.”

“But all you need,

It is right here.

The food is fresh.

The water is clear.”

She’d smile at them

And say, ”Yes, I know.

This is a fine land, but I must go.”

Her love for the sea

It was like a drug

She couldn’t stop it

It was nothing she could unplug

Then one day she left

When the time was right

She said good-bye to the village

Knowing all was alright

She loved her land friends

But she was finally going home

Back where she belonged

Back to her old room

She was smiling as she left

For she knew what  she’d see

The sand and the water

Playing so freely

When she finally got there

She was greeted with cheers

Oh, how they missed her

Those ten long years

She ran into the ocean

Her fins worked just fine

She breathed a sigh of relief

Then found the paper she’d signed

She tore it in half

Her debt she had paid

Ten years to the land

So her ocean could be saved

Though she had no regrets

And she’d do it again

She knew she’d never belong

Amongst the humans

She was a mermaid

Who loved nothing more than the sea

And everything in it

she was finally set free