X is for (Mermaid) X-ing

         (My A to Z Blog Challenge theme this year is Beyond Pomegranate & Thorns, my brand-sparkly-new collection of short stories, poems, and art inspired by fairy tales, myths, and folklore.  All through the month I’m sharing excerpts of art, stories, and poetry, as well as some reflections on the power of the traditional stories that inspired me.  Big thanks to the A to Z organizers for putting this all together, and don’t forget to check out what my fellow A to Z Bloggers are up to, here at the Master List.)

        This is another story based on general folklore rather than a specific tale.  In this case, we’re talking about mermaids.  I’ve shared an article clipped from some antique newspaper, and here’s an excerpt…

Plucky Mermaid Makes History on Third Attempt at Peninsula Crossing

HUSUM, Jun. 21, 1892 – The plucky young waitress from Skagerrak has successfully become the first mer to achieve a solo crossing of the Cimbric Peninsula.  At twelve minutes past one-o’clock this past Saturday, 23 year old Coral Kelpsina dove into the Husumer Au after 6 grueling hours and 48 minutes of endurance in her custom-built Bath chair.  Coral has won the hearts of landpeople and merpeople alike with her determination and spirit, and hundreds of well-wishers were gathered both above and below the water’s edge on Saturday to cheer her historic achievement. 

        This little piece was inspired by the idea that mermaids are as curious about dry land as humans are about the ocean.  Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Mermaid” (followed by Disney’s retelling) took that idea to the extreme in one direction, but what if a mermaid followed her fascination with the land in another way?  Instead of giving up her agency and sacrificing her own identity for “love,” what if she invented a way to expand her abilities and challenge herself to accomplish something new?  I modelled the tone and style of my article on newspaper accounts of late 19th and early 20th century attempts to swim the English Channel.

        In order to illustrate this story I made a “faux” block print rather than carving and printing an actual block.  I figured there was no point in making a real print when there would be no market for pictures of a mermaid in a bath chair.  (But I think it came out rather charming, so maybe I should have carved this after all!)

        Looking for more mermaid fun?  Here are some prior posts featuring mermaid art and poems: Save the Merfolk

     Who is Catching Whom?

     Three Merpoems

        The moral of mermaids is that it’s never easy trying to bridge different worlds.  But the moral of this mermaid is that with hard work and persistence (and a team to support and encourage you) it is possible to achieve your dreams.

        Have you ever pushed yourself to perform a particularly challenging feat?  And who supported you in that endeavor?  I’m very grateful to have the support of my family as I chase my art and writing dreams.

[Picture: Plucky Mermaid, faux block print by AEGNydam, 2026 (Image from Beyond Pomegranate & Thorns).]