Columbus Mermaid Poem by Ima Ryma

Christopher Columbus one day
In 1493 did spy
In the Caribbean sea spray,
A 'mermaid' go a swimming by.
He noted that she was not so
Beautiful as paintings he'd seen,
In fact quite ugly - doncha know!
With chubby body, quite obscene,
And no front teeth, wrinkly and bald,
Not a siren with sex allure,
That to their deaths, sailors she called.
Columbus sailed on, puzzled sure.

What did Columbus really see?
Most likely 'twas a manatee.