Why the Sea Chases the Moon

WHY THE SEA CHASES THE MOON

(A Sulmari Tale)

Come closer.

The night has ears.

And this story

does not like to shout.

Before your grandmother—

(Before.)

Before her grandmother—

(Before.)

Before nine fires burned—

(Before.)

There was the Sea.

And there was the Moon.

And the Sea was lonely.

Every night

the Moon crossed his water.

Silver feet.

Silver hands.

Silver face upon the waves.

And every night the Sea whispered,

“Stay.”

But the Moon said

"No."

He brought her shells.

She left them.

He brought her pearls.

She left them.

He brought her coral

red as blood.

She left that too.

So the Sea asked:

“What will make you stay?”

The Moon looked down.

And said,

“Nothing.”

And the Sea,

being young,

did not understand...

Up comes the water.

(LET IT COME.)

Out goes the water.

(LET IT GO.)

The Sea reaches high.

The Moon passes slow.

What will not stay...

(LET IT GO.)

But the Sea grew jealous.

He rose against the shore.

Higher.

Higher.

Higher still.

He wrapped himself around the Moon's reflection

and cried,

“Now you are mine.”

The Moon laughed.

Not cruelly.

That is important.

Do not make her cruel.

She said:

“You hold only my reflection.”

And when the Sea opened his hands,

there was nothing there.

Up comes the water.

(LET IT COME.)

Out goes the water.

(LET IT GO.)

The Sea reaches high.

The Moon passes slow.

What will not stay...

(LET IT GO.)

For nine nights,

the Sea did not move.

No tide.

No wave.

No dancing water.

The fish waited.

The boats waited.

The people waited.

And the Moon

The Moon came anyway.

On the tenth night

she said:

“Look at me.”

The Sea said:

“You will leave.”

“Yes.”

“You will return?”

“Yes.”

“You promise?”

“No.”

The Sea began to laugh.

Small at first.

Then louder.

Until waves broke against the shore

and every boat began to dance.

And that

is why the Sea still reaches.

Not to keep her.

Not anymore.

Only to say,

“You came back.”

Up comes the water.

(LET IT COME.)

Out goes the water.

(LET IT GO.)

Love what returns.

Bless what must go.

What will not stay...

(DO NOT HOLD.)

And if you forget?

Look at the shore.

The Sea forgets too.

Every night.