By Joyce Jacobo
[Author’s Note: Based on an old tale I heard that seems to have come from Japan, of a kindly soul who seeks to help anyone who is in trouble just off the coast of her hometown.]
A young fisherman was lost at sea
somewhere off the coast of Japan
amid the darkest evening he had known
After a sudden storm
that had pushed him an unknown distance
he struggled just to stay afloat
while enshrouded by dense fog
The fisherman cried out for help
in his desperation
as he bobbed atop the choppy waves
and rain drummed down from the heavens
hidden from sight
He just avoided a sharp slither of stone
which jabbed up from the ocean
much like a curved sword
then another that scraped the hull
from the other side
The fisherman realized
he was in a minefield
of these vicious obstacles
and despaired at his chances
to escape them to safety
when there came
a glimmer of red light
shaped into a radiant sphere
It glided through the air like a firefly
and produced soft music
that reminded him of a lullaby
The fisherman followed the light
with great care in his boat
past the jagged stones
until his boat stopped
in a harsh jerk
against soft sand
and the fog cleared to reveal
he had reached a village
along the coast
***
The storm had blown him
to a place many miles away
from his usual grounds
By the miracle of the red light
the fisherman learned
he had navigated a vast stretch
of the sharp stones in the fog
that had claimed many lives
over the years
He asked after this odd occurrence
throughout the village
until he came across an old man
who tended a shrine upon a hill
that overlooked the sea
This old man told of a girl
who lost her father
(a sailor)
to the stones
and would forever afterwards
help to guide ships away
from the stones from atop that hill
whenever the fog rolled in
with a red paper lantern
Although it was amid the sea
rather than from the hill
that the fisherman had seen the light
he refused to question the fact but asked
to meet with this lantern girl and thank her
To which the old man gestured to the shrine
and indicated the girl had grown old
then passed away
only the previous week
Interesting tale that you constructed as a poem
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Thank you. That’s exactly what I thought when I heard about this amazing tale.
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I enjoyed the poem you wrote always. Its somehow unique too! You write it down in a pattern as if you want it to flow down like a calm river.
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Oh, wonderful! I’m thrilled that you caught that, although it’s also helpful that poetry naturally flows downwards much like a river. ^_^
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Yes I did!! π€
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Awww.
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He was very lucky that her devotion had not been forgotten forgotten.. not even in death. Lovely poetic tale.!
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Thank you. I believe there is supposed to even be a shrine dedicated to that legend somewhere in Japan. It was just too beautiful and uplifting a tale to resist sharing it.
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What a wonderful tale. Brilliant.πππππ
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Thank you. Had you ever heard of anything like this before? I think there are a few tales about ghosts or spirits helping people to find their way out of bad situations.
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Yes I have. My grandmother and father were famous for sharing these type of tales and I would soak them all in. Love it.π
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Ooooh, wonderful. From different parts of the world? ^_^
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Mainly from the country side of Dominican Republic, though through the years I have collected some here and there from different parts of the world. They have always fascinated me and I have been lucky enough to have many friends from different places share tales that they have heard. I only remember a few but do recall the excitement and lasting shock at the end of some. π
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Ooh, that’s really cool, Grace! It’s interesting that there are so many from the Dominican Republic. Makes me wonder where that type of story originated. ^_^
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Dominican’s are a mix of Taino Indian, Spaniard, and African, so I would think that the people would grab a bit from each, aside from this it boarders with Haiti which adds a French appeal and history as well. This combination creates lots of stories.πππ This conversation is motivating me to write about these. Thanks for that.π
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Ooooh, I love the way stories can change and be influenced by a mixture of many different cultures and perspectives. Incredible. I’m glad this conversation has been so inspiring. ^_^
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πππ
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^_^
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A beautiful story Joyce.
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Glad you enjoyed it, Sadje. ^_^
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ππΌππΌππΌ
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Awesome piece. Love it!
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Aww, I’m so happy you enjoyed this tale. ^_^ Thank you.
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