The Mermaid of Atlantic City

by Maureen A. Sherbondy

The legless woman waits in front of the posh casino,

silver chair wheels resting on faded boardwalk wood.

She holds out her cup,

it is one inch full of coins and afternoon ocean air,

she is waiting for winners and losers

to drop white pearls beneath her vacant black pearl gaze.

She stares out to the New Jersey shore,

daydreaming about a life with sea legs,

imagines she is a young mermaid

moving beyond the water of her past,

with her newly grown tail.