Then
I wanted to be a mermaid. But first, I needed the tits and the hair. Hair long enough that it fell in naked curves down my naked chest while I lounged on a rock, luring sailors with my song.
Now
I have tits and hair down to my ass.
You’re probably expecting me to end this with something depressing like, “Yet I never lounge on rocks, luring sailors with my song. In fact, I never even sing in the shower.”
But you’d be wrong. Dead wrong. I must have become a mermaid: look at my wrinkly skin. What could have caused me to wrinkle, if not hours spent submerged, frolicking in the sea?
__
Beth Ann Fennelly has published four-and-a-half books, the half being her most recent, The Tilted World, a novel released by HarperCollins that she coauthored with her husband, Tom Franklin. She directs the MFA Program at the University of Mississippi, where she was recently named teacher of the year.
Photo by Marcia Krause Bilyk
15 comments
Elane Johnson says:
Jan 18, 2016
Astounding, beautiful, perfect, Beth Ann! Plus, I appreciate the new label I can sheathe like a lightsaber in case I need defense against the forces of evil (a.k.a.- youth): I ain’t old. I’m a MERMAID, bitches.
Love, Elane
Lexi says:
Jan 19, 2016
I love this!! Especially the ending. Very lovely writing! 🙂
jessica handler says:
Jan 19, 2016
Maybe kind of perfect, this piece. Reading you lights up my day, Beth Ann.
Molly says:
Jan 19, 2016
What a wonderful, poignant, funny piece!
Beth Ann says:
Jan 19, 2016
Thanks, everyone, for the kind words! So glad to be up on beloved Brevity. My only regret is “mermaid” isn’t included alongside “aging, gender/sexuality, humor” on the tags!
Paula says:
Jan 19, 2016
a poem (or any reflective bit of musing, for that matter) from Beth Ann Fennelly is more enchanting than any siren song. I love this–here’s to more seaside frolicking.
Dani says:
Jan 21, 2016
Perfection.
Kim Kluxen Meredith says:
Jan 22, 2016
Ah, dreams do come true.
Then I should not give up on being a Rockette.. I will keep tapping in my head.
John says:
Jan 24, 2016
Very dear thoughts Beth Ann. Aging is a joy if we are kind to ourselves and wise enough to see the great humor in it. It is a testimony to your brilliance that you are courageous enough to acknowledge the decline of the physical form, at the same time you find a certain completion in the process, the completion of a childhood dream.
Anna says:
Feb 2, 2016
I want to read a book of these! More, more, more!
Susan Cushman says:
Feb 24, 2016
Your writing is always refreshing, Beth Ann. This one lingers on my mind like the taste of good wine on the tongue. Not too sweet. Not too dry. Just right.
Herman King says:
Feb 24, 2016
B.A. As an old sailor I can assure you had you ever hung-out on the rocks with naked bosoms and long flowing hair, you would have been declared a menace to navigation.
geri anderson says:
Mar 6, 2016
I think it was Mark Twain who said it’s more difficult to write 50 words than 5,000 or something like that. Beth Ann, you are so talented.
Diana says:
Aug 12, 2019
Honestly, I am not sure if I read this for a class or by chance. I shared it on FB because I loved it so much. I don’t think my “circle” was able to appreciate it as much as I did. Anyway, I thought of it randomly & searched tirelessly for it on FB. I had to come back to Brevity & search each issue systematically. I come back & read it often; it continues to be an enjoyable & inspiring piece. May we all appreciate the humble & pleasant long-lived life.
Nadia says:
Aug 29, 2019
I really love this piece. I love what it says and the meanings you can apply to this. This made me really start to think about my life and certain situations where I “spent hours submerged in the water”. I just really appreciate you for writing this. It awoke the writer in me again. Wow. Just Wow.