noodle-doodler

shed no tears, high tide girl; you will not wash away the salt in your wounds that way. you were told you must sew seaweed into the reefs of your veins, dye your lips coral red, recite river songs even if you don't follow freshwater currents. clams at your knees & a conch shell to your ear; you still hear atlantis' scorn & watch your name drift apart in sea stars. but you remember: you are still pearlescent in neptune's eyes despite it all & you realize there is no need to let your mermaid cries be soft any longer.