The straight setting of the myth:
This is one of a well known myth that has been orally told from generation to generation in Samoa and may be most islands of the pacific, as they almost have the same belief of the past. Later on when missionaries arrived in the 1800, it was recorded and rewrote by several pacific people which ended up in different opinions and ideas. Some of them have told the myth incorrectly at the beginning eventhough it came to the same conclusion at the end. However, this is the correct and the straight setting of this interesting and short traditional story of the pacific.
My mother was a nice looking lady from the capital city of Samoa, Apia. I haven't seen my father as he was believed to be a demon. I had no idea why I lived in a small pool of water in my village not as a human being but as a very tiny eel, until later, I heard people talking about me and the reason why I lived there.
One day, Sina, a very charming lady, came with a bowl to get some water from the pool where I lived. As she drew some water, I clinged to the side of the bowl and jumped into it. I could easily tell that the girl was not scared of me by the way she talked to me eventhough she didn't recognise that I could hear every single word she uttered when returned home.
On her way home I just swam around, danced, laughed and gazed at her, without her knowing that I was madly in love with her.
"Hello my little friend, I love you so much." said Sina
"I love you so much as well, the beauty of Apia." I murmured from inside the bowl.
"Don't worry about anything my dear, I will take care of you at home and treat you as my lovely pet." uttered Sina.
"Oh Sina! You are so wonderful. What a beautiful lady you are. Don't you know that I am so crazy about you? Please treat me as your future hubby but not as a pet." I whispered silently from inside the bowl of water.
I started to grow bigger and bigger and I could not be fitted inside that bowl of water anymore. I could remember when I was a year and a half old, Sina and her parents decided to put me back into the same pool where I was found. Instead, Sina would visit me three times daily; morning, afternoon and evening. The plan sounded great for me as I would see my darling twenty-one times a week.
Three years later, things were not impeccable. I grew more faster and by the time I was fully grown, the village discovered about me. I laid sadly at the bottom of the pool, listened hopelessly to the plan and arrangements of how to kill me as they were all frightened and scared of my huge body.
When I saw Sina came to visit me for the last time, I felt pain in my heart, tears in my eyes, exhausted and weary because this would be the last time we met each other before I die. I knew how depressed she was when I called out my parting words.
"Sina, you are as beautiful as a flower in the morning. I can see you weeping because I know you love me. I can also see your whole smooth body as you are now standing at the top of the pool while I am staring at you from the bottom. With this broken heart of mine, how am I going to forget you my one and only? Sina, if you really love me, ask your village for my head only.
Plant me near a stone wall.
A tree will grow and thrive and bear fruits.
Single fruits and fruits in cluster.
Husk the fruit and you will see my face; my two little eyes and my beautiful mouth.
Pierce my mouth to drink that water inside the fruit.
Once you drink and sip it I promise I am giving you a real kiss of love."
Sina did everything as she was told by her wonderful pet. Not long after, a tree began to grow, in fulfillment of the eel's prophecy. The tree became known as a coconut tree and the coconut itself bears the image of the eel's face.
Believe it or not? Comments please.
That's all from me, have a nice day.
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4 comments:
Hello Poe
When I read this myth story I was surpraiesed.Do you know why?Becuse,in iranian folk-lore you can see the similar story about love.As you know Iran is located more than 20000km from here.In iranian version the tree is date pulm.This tree for showing its love to daugther every year gives more crop date.As a resualt,the tree lives shorter that others.It seems the tree commited suicide for daugther.I'd like to say that the love story in different cultures is the same.
Bahram
Hullo,
Being from Tahiti I myself have heard the story of the coconut tree and as you said, yours is a slightly altered version. I like the simplicity of your writing, it was very fitting for the retelling of an ancient tale, especially ones from the pacific islands. However, I think that there could be more details about either the eel itself or perhaps the event that led the people of the village to want to kill it. I think maybe a few lines expanding on the worries concerning its size.
I found that there was also bits missing between the eel first meeting Sania and then her suddenly starting to talk to him. He says that she doesn't notice him but then she starts addressing him? I was just a little thrown off by that.
Also, and I think I may be wrong here, but maybe you should try and change the myth, make it your own. Perhaps that would be more considered fanfiction, unless this already was your own spin on it.
Hi hk.c!
Thank you so much for a good comment on my first fanfic Pacific legend. I was trying to shorten the story with my belief that anyone who has a pet like Sina, can talk to it even though that pet doesn't understand the conversation. That was the reason of her starting talk to him.
Secondly,the event of killing the eel as you said to be expanded. As I said before I thoght of shortening the tale, was the reason of not detailing it. However, I'll try my best to rewrite the story as commented.
Lastly, I have retold the story in my own way to make it more interesting for our fanfiction.
The new one will be on the front page
Once again, Thank you for the comment!!
Telling the story from the Eel's point of view...different! Though awesome try. Happy writing.
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