Writers Island - Over the horizon

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I’ve always been fascinated by mermaids. All the best bits of a woman without the complications! And I’ve always thought that I should be able to buy one at the fish counter in the superstore. 38 – 24 - £2 a pound!


Anyway, this week’s prompt on Writers Island led me toward a story about a baby mermaid – a 'merbabe' I suppose you could call it! (Come to think of it, how do 'merpeople' have babies?) Anyway this is it!
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The mid day sun glistened on the sea. A dazzling display of diamonds sparkling atop ripples rolling into a golden sandy cove. Just off the shore an occasional glimpse of a mermaid. Gliding effortlessly through her world of water, queen of all she surveyed.
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Turning on to her back she raised her outstretched arms toward the sky and in her hands she balanced her mermaid child. A tiny fragile creature setting out on a life among the people of the ocean. Princesse de la Mer.
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‘Go my child’ said the mermaid. ‘Take your place beneath the waves. You are the chosen one. Your people are waiting for you’.

‘Where shall I go’ she asked.

‘Over the horizon’ her Mother said.

‘How will I know when I am there?’ said the child.

‘You will know little one. You will know’

And with that she was gone. She glanced back over her shoulder to wave goodbye,but saw no one. She was alone. All alone.



She swam among a rainbow of fishes, through forests of corals and above deep dark places that made her shiver. But the horizon came no closer. Her Mothers words kept coming back to her. ‘Over the horizon’

‘How far is the horizon?’ she asked a dolphin. ‘As far as you can see and farther’ he said.

Which way is the horizon?’ she asked a starfish. ‘That way child’ he said pointing in every direction.

‘How long will it take?’ she asked an oyster. ‘How long is a string of pearls?’ came back the reply.
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‘I’m tired, may I ride on your back?’ she asked a sea horse. ‘No young one’ he said. ‘I can play no part in your journey’.

Suddenly all around her glowed brightly. Everywhere were exotic flowers of every colour snaking toward the daylight above.
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Carpets of coral put on a display of brilliant lights, and before her was a towering rock of silver and gold, embedded with flashing jewels.
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A voice came from nowhere. ‘A deep soft comfortable voice. ‘Your journey is over Princesse de la Mer. Join your people’

And with that, a hundred little mermaids swam toward her from every direction. They formed a circle around her and swam and frolicked and laughed with joy. They formed a nest of arms and gently lifted her higher and higher until she found herself above the waves.

No longer could she see the horizon. The sky formed a giant dome above and around her, and it was filled with birds, butterflies and fragrant aromas. She had arrived in paradise.

‘Take your place upon the rock’ said the voice. ‘The rock over the horizon. The place where you belong'.
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A little ditty!

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Over the horizon a mountain builds
from clouds of deepest grey.
A backdrop to a rainbow arch.
A luminous display.
White shapes swoop and climb then dive.
A swirling mass of gulls at play.
Over the horizon a storm looms large,
then slowly fades away.

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