Island of Everlasting Pearls
a poem
I was born starboard,
the sway of ship like my
mother’s rocking arms.
But the captain refused
to tell me who
she had been—
an unnecessary remnant
of a life not granted
to seafarers.
There was once a mermaid
I imagined could be her—
a forlorn stowaway,
tracing the legend
of a pearl that promised
everlasting life.
She confessed
the night before
her fins were stolen
that she dreamt
of giving it
to a princess
who was cursed
and only had a year
left to live.
If she were my mother,
I wondered,
could I transform
like her, escape
to the open sea,
and chase
the distant thrumming
I heard mostly
on cloudless nights?
I was casting for fish
when she was mutilated,
and it was too late
to repeal the captain’s
greed,
but instead of leaving
her to weep and bleed,
I sent her away
with a dingy
and a map to the nearest
reef that was known
to grow
the oldest pearls
in hopes
that she may be able
to save her princess—
the best ending
I could offer her tragedy.
Months later,
after a ruthless storm,
when I found myself
stranded and pursuing
the Heart of the Sea,
I swam toward the island
of everlasting pearls, unsure
if I wished to find her
or the promise of eternity.
About the Creator
Sam Eliza Green
Wayward soul, who finds belonging in the eerie and bittersweet. Poetry, short stories, and epics. Stay a while if you're struggling to feel understood. There's a place for you here.
Reader insights
Outstanding
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Compelling and original writing
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Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Comments (1)
i love writing and reading about the sea. I've been landlocked most of my life and I have a strange longing for it though I've never really known it.