You Me and the Sea- A Rejoinder

 In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

You Me and the Sea- A Rejoinder

Sea is mesmerizing and spell bound for all the onlookers from the sea shores. But the statement "Sea is mesmerizing and spellbound" may have come from people who may never have sailed over the waves in deep sea. However, it reflects a common human experience of being captivated by the ocean's beauty and power, often described as magical or enchanting. For example, the confluence of three seas in Kanyakumari, India, creates a spectacular, mesmerizing sight that leaves visitors spellbound, while ancient myths tell of sirens using their mesmerizing songs to entrance sailors. 

The sailor is the only one who knows the true meaning when he says that the sea is truly captivating and spell binding. The sea once it cast its spell, holds one in its net of wonder for ever. The sea's vastness, dynamic movements of waves, currents and air spiraling above them, and changing colors deeply capture a sailor's attention, evoking a sense of wonder and fascination. This captures the feeling of being held in a trance-like state by the sea's overwhelming power and beauty. It's an almost magical attraction that can leave any one speechless and deeply affected. That's the reason probably when they say "sailors have more fun."

The sea service often called Naval Service or duty in maritime zone is grueling and challenging. All the employments (whether Naval of Merchant) in a maritime zone is indeed a grueling and challenging profession due to isolation, long periods away from family, exposure to extreme weather and hazards like piracy, and the physical demands of working in a high-risk environment with unpredictable schedules. These factors contribute to physical and mental strain, with risks ranging from mechanical failures and severe weather to potential accidents and cyber-attacks etc etc.

The mythical allure of the sea is often portrayed through stories like those of the Sirens, wave surfing dolphins and playful whales or sharks, and washing by seas, who mesmerized sailors of all kinds on maritime duty with their songs and drew them to their doom. Countless poems, stories, and paintings have used the sea as a metaphor for mystery, power, and profound emotional connection, often using words like "mesmerizing" and "spellbinding" to describe these effects. But despite all those captivating symptoms and signatures, a sailor too has a loving heart, which if afflicted with the arrow of cupid, is often found in deep slumber or lost in his thoughts unaware of his surroundings. 

The phrase "a sailor lost in the love of beloved" may arise as a butt of a joke from fellow mariners for a particular being; most famously refers to a sailor in love of a beloved left at shore, and he becomes consumed by her presence in his thoughts. The phrase can also evoke a broader romantic trope of a sailor's deep, perhaps obsessive, love for a woman, or the emotional attachment and habit of seeking isolation while at sea, as seen in various fictional and biographical accounts. Such a sailor is "a sailor lost in her beauty"; so captivated by a woman's appearance that he becomes unaware of his surroundings, metaphorically "lost" in her captivating presence and singing for her. This can be found in various literary and artistic contexts, where it often symbolizes deep admiration, infatuation, or even a sense of being overwhelmed by someone's extraordinary beauty, similar to being adrift at sea.

If one has served some time at sea with a handful group of sailors, then a real life "sailor lost in the love of beloved" must have been observed. If anyone has not seen any such soul, then he might not have been watchful. One has spent few decades with sailors at high seas and even at shore establishments. The first interaction with one such soul was heart warming. 

It is almost three decades ago, after performing routine tasks in the office, on way to personal cabin, walked down to ME Mess onboard a Naval Vessel. There the "Real Life Hero" was spotted; who was a LME and the in-charge of the crew in the mess. He was in late twenties and still unmarried; which was quite unusual for his tribe. He was engaged with his cousin for many years and for strange reason was still single. He was a living soul, very jovial and smiling and was famous for collection of his cassettes of some soulful love songs which he would play in the mess. He also had a collection of poems written in beautiful calligraphy by him in a diary. He had a box full of love letters from the fiancée and off course he used to write too. He was also an efficient and high graded sailor.

Onboard another ship, once while strolling behind from bridge towards quarterdeck, overheard a sailor singing in his vernacular language, while doing his watch on the deck. When, he saw me, he went quiet; however; once patted on the back and encouraged; he informed of recalling his beloved by singing for her. Similarly, noticed a particular sailor opting for night duty frequently at a watch tower in an establishment, went to check him during a routine round, and noticed him singing. He was also recalling the beloved and he preferred night duty so that he may not be disturbed in his ritual. 

The following poem is dedicated to those real life heroes.

The sailor leans upon the rail,

As twilight paints the sea with veil.

The sky is brushed in crimson light,

A tender prelude to the night.

He thinks of shores he left behind,

A gentle face, a love entwined.

The waves may sing, the stars may gleam,

But all he holds is one sweet dream.

The evening winds, so soft, so true,

Whisper her name across the blue.

Though oceans part their worlds in two,

His heart still sails in love’s own hue.