26/03/2026
Paula J Musante
What if the mermaids are all of the women
Cast overboard ‘cause of old superstition
Drowning beneath the waves, gasping for breath
Then forging a tail with the strength they have left?
And what if the dragons, with their breath ablaze
Were once little lizards all thrown to the flames
Choking on smoke and then swallowing flares
Then rising up, claiming that power as theirs?
And maybe the vampires favour the night
‘Cause they’ve been kept in the dark most of their lives
Starved of companions, affection and love
‘Til they have no choice but to feed on our blood
Yes, what if these creatures of magic and myth
Are those who’ve known darkness but chosen to live
Chosen to breathe and to rise and survive
To harness adversity, hoping they’ll thrive?
And what if you too have been thrown to the waves,
Befriended the night and encountered the flames
And so you’ve assumed that you’re destined to burn,
To drown in the darkness -
But what if you learned…
That maybe your story is not over yet
That there are still pages that need to be read
Pages of oceans that you’re yet to swim,
Fiery chapters for you to breathe in
Lines built on words that are so full of light
Of such warmth and strength, they inspire you to write
And what if you choose now to pick up a pen
And write through the night ‘til you come to the end?
And what if you read it back? Well, then you’ll find
That your story has always held magic inside
✨✨✨✨✨
Becky Hemsley 2022
Beautiful artwork by Demelsa Haughton Illustration
‘What if?’ is from my second collection: https://amzn.to/46LrXUo
(affiliate link)
