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22 August 2014

“Song“: a new poem by Emily Berry

By Emily Berry

after Luna Miguel

When I became mermaid it was for this reason.
The girl I love is a beautiful boy.
So you would not ask questions.
Because I gave myself up to the rain
but it was too late; the rain could not save me.
And when I thought the line was straight,
I was wrong; I could not follow the line.
Thus the shore, infinitely. Thus these rocks.
There was so much to feel good and sorry about.
And I shut my legs up tight, I shut my eyes.
So I could see him better, so I could see her.

Emily Berry’s debut poetry collection, Dear Boy, won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection in 2013.

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