The Mermazons of Sakonnet

Written By Paul Mercier

I found a recent article by Ted Hayes in the Westport Shorelines online edition about Melinda Green swimming in Sakonnet Harbor among the ice flows!  “Amazing!” I thought to myself, so I googled Mermazons and I found a previous article by Ted about the Mermazons. To my surprise, there was a picture of Midori Evans with her fellow Mermazons. The group formed as a result of the pandemic and they try to swim as often as possible.  So here is my tribute poem to Midori and her fellow Mermazons!


The Mermazons of Sakonnet

Melinda Green in a wetsuit and swim cap smiling while floating in icy, partially frozen water.

I always notice your White Caps

across the dark green Sea,

Winter Fern, yesterday’s standstill—

Snow—Rain—Ferocity.

At Sakonnet we make our meet,

and don Neoprene ware;

down ramp we walk, a shivering,

wading—into the Mere,

Arctic Gasp—needles prick our skin,

stabbing upon the Touch,

Plunge—numb into silent abyss,

endorphins start to rush,

Midori Evans and The Mermazons in wetsuits, swim caps, and gloves smile on a rocky beach beside the water, posing before a cold-water swim.

We swim in your Frigid Beauty,

our group—Six Strong—abide,

as a Spotter watches from shore—

the Freeze—Ice Floes—the Tide,

And regardless of the Season,

we Brave bone-chilling Cold;

minutes and moments flow onward—

Alive—Energized—Bold.

January 28, 2026

Paul Mercier

Paul Mercier has been reading and writing poetry since 2013. He has been taking classes with The Second Half Lifelong Learning Institute and participating with Poets’ Table and Westport Writes. Paul has published pieces in NPR Poetry Sunday, The Second Half Perspectives Magazine, The Spectator, Westport Writes, Tidings, Cat Ladies Against Fascism, Rituals, and Massachusetts Bards Poetry Anthology,  The Landscape About Us (2024 IPNE award winner) and Waterscapes.

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