Rachel Alarcio π
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Miss Mermaid, Ms. Mermaid
Honey, it’s easy to latch onto the golden boy
when all you’ve seen is pristine,
polished marble Davids, Diavals, Torvalds
all torturously out of reach,
perched: atop a peak. It’s easy to get caught,
trapped, all Amy Adams-eque Enchanted.
Enamoured with l’amour. Arms draped in furs,
peacock feathers for an angler.
Movies and music videos have you caught,
in the Tangled web; fishing for bouquets
from Frozen strangers. Electric, magnetic,
kinetic sand slips through digits. Quick,
as a twist: of toad tongue.
How badly you want his. To reel
you in, save you from stormy seas, seize
control. Bottle your nonexistent soul.
Chop your fin, lickity-split.
Put you out of your three-century ennui.
Dragonfly wings float on a film of blood.
Pretty princess can’t scream
murder. Say?
Well I did say: I’m no Naiad.
I’m a witch. I cauterize wounds
with truth serum.
From his angle, you are speck.
Crumb of bread. Marked.
To be devoured.
Down, to your porus marrow.
Dearie, tell me: Who is the fisher?
Who is the fish? Other than appearance,
what is
in a catch?
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About the Author
Filipino-American poet Rachel Alarcioβs writing and photography have been featured or are forthcoming in two award-winning WriteGirl anthologies, Exposition Review, at LAXβs Terminal 7-8, and elsewhere. Their prose has also been recognized at the national level by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She is currently working towards her B.A. in English from Kalamazoo College. Find them @rachelalarcio on Twitter and @raechillout on Instagram.