The Siren's Lament [Prose & Poetry]

The rumble of thunder beneath the dark clouds lent more strength to the depression that swayed the land.

The waves crashed into the ocean one after the other with such force that drove terror into the hearts of men.

They knew…

Something was not right. On the shore of the ocean, the siren vertically took off into the skies, the force sprinkling showers of saltwater into the air. She did a wide sweep above the ocean, her shriek piercing the nooks and crannies of the island.

Every heart gasped at the painful strike of the sound, like a spear through soft flesh.

Then the soft humming began, the echoes reaching every ear, even those afar off. The night was going to be a long one.

It wouldn't be the first time that the siren, a majestic creature residing on the island, had lost. Every corner of the ocean felt her fear, tasted her tears and cried along with her. Sailors on the ocean were lured into piloting their boats into rocks and perished. Some residents with weak hearts died in their sleep of heartbreak.

Then the siren went into hiding, to lick her wounds and harmony was restored to the island. That was five decades ago.

The sea monster had returned.

The elderly groan in pain for what was to come at the sound of the siren's screech that night. It was too late to leave the island. They must stay and ride out the siren's sorrow and loss.

A sweet, lilting voice began to sing, the notes dancing with the cold winds and the lyrics piercing every heart.

What is mine cannot be yours
You take a part of me
Again and again
My dream and my longing
You steal away
To cause me pain

I am laid bare, naked
Torn from my soul
At centuries old pain and loss
Who would rescue me
And bring back what's mine
From you, Aholz?

Return my younglings, Aholz
My love you have betrayed
If my silence comes
I will return no more
For you will no longer
Take from me again and again

Aholz, Aholz, Aholz

The siren's enchanting voice grew in intensity, casting its spell over every human on the island. Sleep departed from every eye that night as the king and his soldiers rallied all the men.

They had worshipped the siren for centuries as she protected them from misfortunes and disasters. But they never knew or understood her pain because she was silent.

Now she spoke. And they listened.

The sea monster, Aholz, her admirer from the beginning of time, stole her youngling every time she bore them. He wanted her heart but the siren would give no one her heart.

A night of the tempestuous ocean, the dark cloud rolling in menacingly as deafening thunders shook the skies, the humans on the island rose in unison that night against the sea monster. Empowered by the strength in the siren's voice, they killed the sea monster.

Many lives were forfeited.

The siren wailed for three days unend, vowing to help her survivors to rebuild, live and love again. They became her younglings.

^{Images created by AI in Nightcafe Studio}