LOL VILLANELLE

[fulselden]

Written (DESPITE MYSELF) for the prompt  'say not soft things' at 31_days.
Series: The Little Mermaid (Disney; postcanon)
Characters: Ariel, the prince.
Rating/Warnings: G. Poetry!fic.

 

Say not soft things, my darling girl, to me

You left your shoes together with your crown,

You open up your mouth within the sea

 

And take salt water like a salary.

Show me your face, girl, that sharp smile or frown

Say not soft things, my darling girl, to me.

Take all my lands and castles as your fee

Take inland water, deep and soft and brown.

Don’t open up your mouth within the sea.

Take string bikinis and a golden key,

Take my assurance, girl, take up your gown,

Say not soft things, my darling girl, to me.

 

You walk a little slowly, girl, for me

But that I’ve never told you, set it down.

You open up your mouth and breathe the sea.

 

I’ll bring you canes all tipped in ivory

I’ll bring you red shoes and take you to town,

Say not soft things, my darling girl, to me.

You open up your mouth within the sea.

Comments

[quinara]

I love this lots and lots! (Though I fear having never seen The Little Mermaid all the way through is kicking me in the arse in terms of managing to understand everything.) It's very pretty.

And take salt water like a salary.

I love this line especially - the way it extends the idea of Ariel giving up her voice for the prince to an issue of giving up her (financial/consumerist) independence. Because of course the two are linked!

[fulselden]

Oh wow, thank you! FIRST ATTEMPT AT VILLANELLE = SUCCESS, I feel! And, ahem, I wouldn't worry about missing out on deep references to Disney canon, as I haven't seen the film since I was about nine (much as I loved it then!). It probably has more Andersen in on the whole - though if by some faint chance you haven't read that version, I would advise not looking for it: ARGH.

Which mixes together with Disney to result in, as you pick out, fury for poor salaried Ariel!