the fable of the mermaid & the drunks

all those men were there inside when she cam in totally naked. they had been drinking: they began to spit. newly come form the river, she knew nothing. she was a mermaid who had lost her way. the insults flowed down her gleaming flesh. obscentites drowned her golden breasts. not knowing tears, she did weep. not knowing clothes, she had none. they pocked her with burnt corks and cigarette stubs and rolled around on the floor in racous laughter. she did not speak, she had no speech. her eyes were the color of faraway love. her arms were white topaz. her lips moved silent, in a coral light, suddenly she went out by that door. entering the river she was instantly cleansed, shining like a wet stone in the rain and without looking back she swam out again. swam towards emptiness, swam towards her death.

pablo neruda