Traversing The Sea Of Life

The island elders gathered all
the young together for a meeting.
“Soon you must answer the call.
Prepare well, for time is fleeting.”

The youngsters knew one day soon
they’d have to set sail on their own;
under both harsh sun and bright moon
they’d have to traverse the sea alone.

Forsaking the safety of their island home,
their tribal tradition demanded each
must build a craft in which to comb
the vast sea ‘til new land they did reach.

Some of the young scrounged fallen trees,
from which they tied together a small raft.
They spent their days cooled by the breeze
as all they did next was to play and laugh.

Others hollowed out from one large palm
a dug-out canoe deep enough for supplies
to be stored. This would cut through calm
seas smoothly on those days with blue skies.

Still others, fewer by far, asked the master
shipbuilder for guidance, studying at his side.
They wanted a craft able to withstand disaster
on stormy seas – a craft in which to have pride.

With lessons learned well, these youths were
able to construct a catamaran, though it required
hard work all day, while some others did prefer
to simply play in the sun and surf until tired.

The day of leaving their parents’ safe island
arrived. With much celebration, each youth
launched his craft and soon lost sight of land.
Alone at sea each would encounter truth.

Conditions were calm the first few days.
All were happy; the boats performed just fine.
But then, dark clouds hid the sun’s rays,
and the sea became a cauldron of swirling brine.

The rafts were the first to fail, causing their
cargo to disappear under the stormy waves.
The waves rose to greater heights; laid bare
was the harsh cruelty with which life behaves.

The dug-out canoes next were swamped by
the turbulent sea. As their passengers sank,
they discovered the error made in their try
to do just enough and upon calm seas bank.

Those in the catamarans were tossed about
wildly by the fearsome storm, until the wind
ceased blowing, removing remaining doubt
of their survival. Against the sea they’d win!

Back on the home island, all the elders agreed
so many youths continually would meet despair
by misspending their time, ignoring their need
to survive on the sea. So why don’t they prepare?


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