Penitence Poem by Elizabeth Shield

"I am through with heartache, " said the siren to the sea
"And it won't do any good for you to try and convince me."

Countless hours have I spent
Twisting at the hearts of men
With every aspect I possess
And all the words my lips access
A song too sweet for them to bear
Is always present in my air

"And here, " she admitted "are you and I once more, "
"Watching salt-soaked splinters drift their way to shore."

You wine-dark waves are never clean
The curse that you bestowed on me
Has brought me naught but pain and grief
And death to those who near my reef
Oh how I wish I had no voice
That those that passed here had a choice

"But nothing I can do or say" she slowly realized
"Will ever take this pain away or give them back their lives."