mermaid

in the back of a trunk

with the tape on its mouth

with the eyes pulled back flickering

pupils dialated with coagulated red crust.

a ripped up florida tee-shirt

and a rib pointing out by a palm tree

watch it try to take a step and fall

with a rotting nervous system

its never been here before

and its never going to be here again

so it rests in its defeat at the hands

of so many strangers it never knew.

they take a sharp turn and the rib breaks

they stop and it can no longer feel any thing

they take it out of the trunk almost vommitting

at what a mess they had made.

they put it in the water and let it go home

they laugh as it twitches as

it floats away with a trail of crimson,

and they smile at a job well done.

good job guys.