Kinds
Mermaids. Everything above the waist is an iconkind: the same face, the same ears (now swept back as fins) and the same badge on the chest. Below it, a tail.
A broad fan, two long lobes, or trailing veils.
The storybook one.
Two long lobes with air between them.
Trailing veils and hip fins.
Scallop tops, wraps, crowns and circlets, each with a badge.
Comes back, always, twice a day.
Builds slowly. Shelters whatever settles on them.
Makes something lovely out of an irritation.
Grows fast, bends with everything, breaks in nothing.
Goes further down than anyone asked them to.
Small thing, travels a long way.
Armour, beards and tridents.
Holds the line.
Older than the argument.
Arrives loud. Leaves things moved.
Stays put on purpose, so that somebody else is free to move.