Mermaid at a Fish Fry

By Ariel Fullerton

She was invited

and arrived

the letter

gill

dead gold

and sealed

with a kiss

of death

unbeknownst

to her

she brought

herself

and other gifts

to share

with friends

they laid them out

upon the table

and her too

tied limb

and fin

on the barbeque

in mock

welcome

to the land

they left the charcoal

below and

lit the

flame and

roasted her

alive

they spit

upon her scales

and called

it justice

for her sparkle

against their

dull

mutedness

as they closed

their ears

and hearts but not their eyes

to her muted cries.

By Ariel Fullerton