- Mermaid in the Deep- Graphite 9″ x 12″
Coming upon a mermaid is a most wondrous sight, but one is advised to to be very cautious when approaching her, or him! There appears to be two varieties of merpeople. I say two because the mermaid or merman is a very elusive creature and it is merely conjecture at this point as to the number of types. And why wouldn’t they be elusive!? They seem to be well aware of mankind’s penchant to shoot, stuff, and subsequently proudly hang over their fireplaces their so called “trophies”. Or perhaps even worse is forcing them to perform in some Sea World type place, or caging them in a tiny aquarium in some zoo for all the world to gawk at open mouthed and perhaps drooling.
The two known supposed varieties of merpeople are the common or ordinary mermaid/man (though there is nothing common or ordinary about them) and the second known as a siren. The common merperson is known to assume the form of a dolphin to guide sailors who are lost, lead ships trying to navigate treacherous rock filled waters, rescue drowning sailors , etc.
Ah, but the sirens are a whole nother matter. Their intent towards mankind is not so benevolent. They enjoy immensely, sitting on the rocks sweetly singing with their bewitchingly beautiful voices luring unwary and unsuspecting sailors to certain death. Their ships, then are steered by maddened men whom neither can see, know or care that the rocks are mere yards away waiting to smash their ships into thousands of little pieces that will end up as as flotsam and jetsam on a beach next morning. The sailor who is lucky enough to have survived the sinking of his ship only to come to the notice of the sirens is likewise lured below the waves where the sirens continue to sing their hauntingly beautiful songs, the sailor responding by following them ever lower to the icy depths, only to realize when it too late that he is drowning and soon to be dead.
The learned and well known authority on the children of the fae, Hans Christian Andersen, purports to believe that merpeople live to be around 300 years old, have no souls, turn to seafoam when they die, and must earn their souls by good deeds. (kind of keeps out the Sirens, doesn’t it…?) I however think that is utter rubbish and nonsense and is a patent expression of the arrogance of some who think that just because they are capable of writing things down that it makes it true. I do not believe for one second that any merperson would disclose such a personal detail about themselves to any human. Frankly no human lives long enough to prove or disprove how long a mermaid lives or knows with absolute certainty that they themselves even have a soul. Personally, I believe that all creatures do have them though like everyone else I can’t prove it. I would be a lot happier if I could.
In conclusion I strongly admonish that if you are so incredibly fortunate as to come upon a merperson that you take note and keep to a safe distance. Admire, but do not under any circumstance attempt to touch or make contact in any way.
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved Ann Gates Fiser
Moontoe Gallery 