When the wedding was over, the couple was sent,
Aboard a great ship, to their honeymoon tent.
And when the day faded, some lanterns were lit,
And the sailors danced joyfully as the royals permit.

The mermaid soon joined them and though her feet bled,
Her heart hurt her more filled with feelings of dread.
She knew that by morning, she'd be all alone,
A froth on the ocean; She'd turn to sea foam.

Then soon the lights dimmed and they all turned for bed,
But the sweet little mermaid would not rest her head.
She instead took a seat, there by the rail,
The seagulls and wind above her did wail.

Her sisters popped up from the blue ocean spray,
But their long flowing hair had been all cut away.
"Look, look, little sister!" One oldest one cried,
"We gave up our hair, now you don't have to die!

In return for our locks the witch gave us a knife,
Plunge it to the prince's heart and quick end his life!
When on your long legs the blood falls from the sore,
They'll join into a tail; you can come home once more!

With us, you can live the rest of your years.
Grandmother's been worried; she's shed many tears.
Now be quick, little sister, there's not time to conspire!
By morning's dawn you or the prince must expire!"

They threw her the knife and then soon departed,
She lifted the blade, feeling so much downhearted.
She knew they were right; it was his or her life,
She opened the tent, looked upon he and his wife.

She had to slay her dear prince, but she just couldn't now,
She loved him too much, so she just kissed his brow.
She bid him farewell, and then slipped from the tent,
Her decision was final; she understood what it meant.

By dawn's morning light, she would turn into foam,
Though her family was waiting for her at their home.
But she couldn't kill the prince, she just didn't dare,
His happiness was hers and that's all that she cared.

She walked to the rail, threw the knife overboard,
The water turned red when hit by the sword.
Then one last sad look at her prince she made,
Before jumping the rail and after the blade.

The sky then did lighten as the bright sun shone,
And she felt her tender body dissolve into foam.
Then soon the pain stopped and she suddenly discovered,
That death stopped it's claim, unlike it did all the others.

And then she rose slowly towards morning's new light,
The sun filled her eye 'cause it was so bright.
And around her appeared many beautiful women,
As translucent as she and through the clouds swimmin'

"Who are you?" She asked. Her voice! It was there!
"My dear," they replied, "We are the daughters of the air.
Mermaids have no souls and neither do we,
But we may earn ours by years of good deeds.

Since you suffered so dearly, you may still reach your goal,
Come and join us in our quest of obtaining a soul.
If for three hundred years you be kind and wait,
After your time is done, you'll pass through the gates."

And for the first time ever, tears filled her eyes,
She looked down on the ship and got a surprise.
The prince and his bride were searching for she,
She went to them then, kissed the bride smiled at he,

And then rose up with the others far and so high,
Joining the daughters of the air in the vast spacious sky.
"Our sentence may be shortened," said one very mild.
"For our years may be lengthened or shortened by a child.

For every each time that a child is good,
A year is subtracted, as it very well should.
But each every time that a child is bad,
For each biter tear a day will be add'."

But this didn't bother the mermaid, no, she was glad,
For she seldom did cry 'cause a child was bad.
Her years passed her quickly 'cause the children were nice,
And the sweet little mermaid at last entered heaven, paradise.