OBJECT: Mermaid Figurine
BODY OF WATER: Dead Horse Bay
Tonight I walked
to where the sea topples
onto the bay.
Knuckle-deep in murky waters,
a porcelain figurine
reclined
in an ebbing tide.
Across its eroding surface,
sparkling minerals
juxtaposed
against its hollow navel.
A licked finger
swabbed in the air
reveals the brokenness between
porcelain and flesh
is palpable, perhaps relatable,
but only at arm’s length
and in small occasional doses.
Hugo J. Quizhpi was born and raised in NYC. He served in the US Air Force Reserves, where he received recognition for duties rendered during 9/11 and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His work is inspired by his experiences in the military and his indigenous Ecuadorian roots. His work has been published in Elohi Gadugi Journal, The Author's Voice, and in WLRN Public Radio.