In Performance

John William Waterhouse, “A Mermaid,” 1900 Oil on canvas, 96.5 x 66.6 cm. Image courtesy of WikiCommons (http://bit.ly/162XAUQ)

as the Gothic Mermaid

in Act II

I siren from a fathomless sea

The kelp forest undulates to pulse.

 

in Act II

I am a Gothic Mermaid

my sequined scales swish side-to-side

I am suspended by a cable.

—

J. W. Waterhouse (1849 – 1917) submitted “A Mermaid” to the Royal Academy as his diploma work. Read more about Waterhouse and this painting on the RA website.

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