Simply 6 Minutes

What is it about mermaids, anyway?
Mythical murderers or sweet singing princesses
is there a five year old girl
splashing in a summertime pool
who has not said, “Let’s pretend we’re mermaids.”
Scales of iridescent greens and blues
twisting, turning in the Atlantic current
the gentle manatee their grandparents?
Whatever those sailors saw
I believe.