Her face was in a bed of hair, 1
Like flowers in a plot－
Her hand was whiter than the sperm
That feeds the sacred light.
Her tongue more tender than the tune 5
That totters in the leaves－
Who hears may be incredulous,
Who witnesses, believes.
Like flowers in a plot－
Her hand was whiter than the sperm
That feeds the sacred light.
Her tongue more tender than the tune 5
That totters in the leaves－
Who hears may be incredulous,
Who witnesses, believes.
(F.1755/J.1722)
[1–8]:: this poem talks about The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen (1805–75).
[1] a bed of hair:: the little mermaid has a long hair to cover her body.
[2] plot:: "Each little princess had her own small garden plot, where she could dig and plant whatever she liked."
[3] sperm:: a hint on sea.
[5] tongue:: Mermaid is said to have the most beautiful voice in the world. The little mermaid gives up her tongue in exchange for her legs.
[6] leaves:: pages, of the fairy tale book.
[7] incredulous:: as a fairy tale.
[8] witnesses:: who gives up one's life for love to have an immortal soul.
Lowering her gaze, she saw that her fish tail was gone, and that she had the loveliest pair of white legs any young maid could hope to have. But she was naked, so she clothed herself in her own long hair. (The Little Mermaid)