“I am busy”, said the sea. “I am busy, think of me”.

I remembered Sir Cecil Spring Rice’s poem when I sat idly on the seashore one day.

“I am busy,” said the sea, 

“I am busy. Think of me, 

Making continents to be.

I am busy,” said the sea.

 I started watching the seagulls flying over my head then sharply pointing their beaks into the sea. The crabs were happily running around playing “Hide and Seek” with the waves that visit the sands regularly leaving a white foam that soon withered away. What a pleasant day it was! Everything around gave me a promising impression of a splendid day. The blue sky reflecting its hue on the shiny sea surface and the intricate blue shades of the waves all was a breath-taking view.

On the white soft sand I sat taking a deep fresh breath and observing the beautiful sight. Right in front of me was the vast blue sea. Amid the wet salty waves I could clearly see strange spots that were never there. I heard a fading weep and as there was no one on the beach except myself, it was not difficult to realize that it was the sea! The poor creature was not well. It was obviously demanding that we should “think” of it. The sea, stretching its vast salty mass, looked at me with its wet eyes and asked if I could spare him some time.

“I am the huge sea that has always been there for ages. I am one of the fundamentals of nature. I did my job sincerely day and night but I feel that I need help. I am lonely and exhausted. No one thinks of me. Humans are overwhelmed by my bounties and in return they dump me with their wastes. Plastic bottles jeopardize my marine life and ships treat me as a junkyard. Why are they so senseless? I need care. Think of me! Has anyone thought of the effect of oil wastes on my creatures? It breaks my heart every day to see turtles, seagulls and fish suffocating swallowing plastic caps and litter bags. Why are humans so harsh on us?! Humans take me for granted and challenge my generosity and patience. I am a giver. That’s a fact but I need to feel appreciated at times.”

The sea’s words were raging at times and flowing softly at others exactly in the same pattern of its waves. All its complaints were true. I looked around me applying the words to life on earth. How many people around us are taken for granted? How many persons around us do we dump regularly with our problems and rubbish and we expect them to handle them for us! We push each other’s buttons to the maximum and we never expect a rebellion. A calm and patient friend is very tempting for us to abuse with frequent worries and troubles. 

The words of the sea rang a bell to me. They were an ultimatum to beware the most giving and the most generous person around us. Life should be based on a give and take policy. Moderation is a must. A silent giver will reach a point of explosion when drained. We should balance our needs and our duties towards the others. I left after this eye opening message determined to listen to all murmurs with due care!