I never loved him
Just the idea of being him
Or like him
With his legs
Those legs that could
Do anything.
The rumors got it twisted,
dunno why the witch thought
That I was in love with a stranger
Or that three days was enough to try
The legs she spelled into existence.
Every step is hell on earth to me
Yet it’s worth it to dance a bit
And run across the sands
The sun is setting sadly
If I don’t do this I guess…
I don’t want to return to the sea
It’s time to bite the bullet.
It’s time to kiss the boy.
I always like different takes on familiar tales and this one hits the target.
Did you know that “the idea of being him / Or like him” is how Freud described love?
I will never see any version of this story again without wondering did she love him because it was expected or did she love him to keep from returning to the sea, to dance and run as she could not in the sea. She certainly seems reluctant to go for the ciiche happy ending (“bite the bullet”).
Not only poetic but also clever, original, and thought-provoking.