The Mermaid Ring

upon the bayou’s shores sat i
to watch white fish circle
-smaller than a handheld skimming rock
each spun solemn
one after the other
a mermaid ring

i daren’t not break the mystery with a thrust of my hand through the middle
but temptation sat with me
as i sat watching
the mermaid ring

eventually the ring wobbled and broke
silk strands of fish darted and departed
but I’ll always remember the darkness that sat in
the mermaid ring