The Chatting Stars

Once upon a time,
back when I still made my living on a ship

Once you head out onto the vast ocean,
you forget all about the land.

The sea is constantly flowing and moving,
sometimes trying to swallow me whole.

It is no exaggeration to say
that I am always living side-by-side with death.

It is precisely because the sea flows and moves
that I am able to fish, though.

I was always watching the stars.
The stars are very talkative.
More than anything, they are pure and lovely.

When you gaze at them,
every single star
tries to shine the brightest.

Bright stars,
dim stars,
large stars,
and small stars alike.

They all shine with all their might.
The beauty
and the joy of it is something else.

For a while, I forget the fear of death.

Because I had the blessings of the stars,
I was able to travel far.

That pure radiance
gives courage to everyone who looks upon it.