Upon the rock naked and brown In sun-gossamer'd morning gown Wallow'd a damsel with a guile Of cunning eyes and playful smile. 'A mermaid!', when some human said, Alertly raised she her craned head; Ensued a struggle among the men To reach the brink of the blue main. The charming glory of the wintry morn That took the spell by a rutting turn; How strong the Allure's malignant drag That men rode up the deathly crag! The sea-nymph held her breath off flight Her fleshly lips quiver'd a bit, She shook her legs and fins all open And dived into the sea none to own. The strugglers' woes loom'd on their face, Yet reckless of the aborted race; Jumped into the grave sea's nymphic home And came not out but the ominous foam! -- N P Samal