everynight when moonlit veil of the night
is trailed across the somnolent visage of earth
studded with sparkling asters like diamonds
and lunar fingerprints turn golden sands platinum
the mermaid sits in the solitude on the grey bosom
of rocks scattered on the seashore, since aeons
with a little cherubic merchild in her arms
- the embryo of her transient love with a sailor
every night she sits and sings poignant strains
in the remembrance of her beloved
gazing at distant horizons with forlorn, hopeful eyes
those now dark pools of melancholy
that had once sailed with rainbow dreams
singing of their love, those fluorescent memories
now faded but still hurling within depths of her soul
she sings of their promises now withered
like tangerine nodaic leaves of autumn
her melodies relate her angst, her loneliness
as opalescent tears flow down satin cheeks
the toddler listens to the quaint lullaby
emerging from maternal lips that mingles
with the opera of the dancing tides of indigo ink
and sleeps in abbreviated episodes
for drops of tears fall on sleeping countenance
wake him up from the soporific slumber
her vigil ends when aurora steps over
threshold of horizons on scarlet footprints
but begins yet again with the rising silver moon
the aureate flame of eternal love and hope
burns in her soul flickering but refusing to die
and is reflected in her unwavering gaze
that waits for a familiar yet half forgotten profile
to appear before eyes of anticipation
unable to embark on a search of her beloved
she sits waiting against all hope for his return
unable to accept that what was love for her
was merely a passing fascination to another
who had left her alone as he sojourned
new horizons oblivious of her waiting…