Saturday, December 7, 2019

Mouthless; or, an Interactive Retelling of The Little Mermaid

Watching him through a wet veil, she thought, He’s perfect. So, the decision to exchange her voice for his touch wasn’t difficult to make. Not while his tongue warmed her blood.

They had some good days, better nights.

No, there was no happily anything. Mouthless girls rarely get an ever after. They get foam, unless_____________.



Yes, that “unless__________” is an invitation to change the mouthless girl’s fate. An invitation which you, of course, don’t have to accept. But if you do, then I would love to read your ending to this retelling in the comments. 


detail, from “Morning Walk”, a photo by Mario Azzi - on Unsplash

this interactive retelling (which I’m linking to Poets United Pantry of Poetry and Prose #7) was inspired by the frothy water in two of Kerry O’Connor’s paintings

32 comments:

  1. Although the Little Mermaid loved her prince, she also loved the memories of home. Each day she gathered shells and stones and weeds cast up by the sea, and created a grotto of these treasures. The prince was enchanted by her imagination and love of beauty. Although she could neither sing nor speak, she could draw. Upon the sand, first with her fingers and then a stick she found, she drew images of her sisters with their graceful, shining tails. She drew the pearl-encrusted caverns of their deep home. The prince was fascinated. When, with drawings and sign language, she made him understand what she had done to be with him, he wept.'Take me to your home!' he begged. I will sacrifice whatever is asked of me, if only you can be restored to your true self, and I may live my life with you there. I will give up my legs for a tail, my crown for gills, my life in the palace for a life of love and freedom with you! The Little Mermaid kissed him and went to the water's edge. When her sisters rose from the waves, she drew a picture for them of the sea-witch, made beckoning signs, and waited....

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    1. "I will give up my legs for a tail". My rather questionable sense of humor can't stop grinning at this. Yes, I am a terrible woman. 😁

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    2. Tsk! How could I perpetrate that?! LOL. (See, I told you there are flaws in my fictions.)

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    3. Your muse likes to have fun, obviously.

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  2. It is hard to finish perfection!

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  3. Yes, one must be careful what you barter for what you think is love and happiness it may not always be a great bargain.

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    1. So, true. Giving up everything without knowing what's what first can be problematic.

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  4. ...unless of course he trades his pair of legs for a perfect merman lower body fishy tail...

    Happy Sunday

    Much✏love

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  5. "They get foam, unless they smarten up, live their own lives and never sacrifice their voice again for anything."

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  6. They get foam, unless ..... sorry my muse is flummoxed!😱 🤣

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  7. ...they remember that their mouth isn't the only tool they have to make themselves understood. And providing that princes remember there is more than one way to hear and infinite ways to understand.

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  8. "....unless she finds her voice...." as I once did, to my ex's shock. LOL.

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  9. I LOVE the way this story starts, but, alas, I have no idea how to finish it.

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    1. Perhaps, every now and again, beginnings are enough...

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  10. Oh, my muse is not too keen on mornings, but I foresee the day when our little mermaid comes to the painful and liberating understanding that no one is perfect - but voicing our truths (however imperfectly) is!

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    1. Voiced truths are always a good way to get things started.

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  11. Unless she gathers the nerve to fulfill her dreams. Though I wonder if he would sacrifice his legs and join her in the ocean ❤️

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  12. ...foam unless she awakens from her nightmare, smiles, talks to friends, family, many others as she walks proudly into her future to find her true and inner self. No prince.

    Sorry. This may make no sense. I hate to confess - I'm not familiar with the little mermaid.

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    1. It makes perfect sense. And it's quite impressive, considering you're not familiar with the fairy tale. She pretty much leaves everyone and everything she knows, in order to follow the prince. Things don't go well. So, reclaiming her connections and finding value and pride in herself makes perfect sense to me.

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  13. For any temptation, if one counts the cost before succumbing to that tempting fruit, there would be a lot less fruit consumed.
    This is an interesting exercise and I can think of dozens of words to add but non that would be better than leaving it to anyone's imagination. Thank you

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    1. So true. Besides, even if one tries to make sense of what the doing will cost, nothing can truly assure us that the information will be accurate.

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  14. 'flummoxed' about says it best (copying Vivian here)!!!!!!! Intriguing!

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