The First Tears: From Native American Myths at Americanfolklore.net

An Inuit Myth

retold by

S. E. Schlosser

Once long ago, Man went hunting along the water's edge for seals. To Man's delight, many seals were crowded together along the seashore. He would certainly bring home a great feast for Woman and Son. He crept cautiously towards the seals. The seals grew restless. Man slowed down. Suddenly, the seals began to slip into the water. Man was frantic. His feast was getting away.

Then Man saw a single seal towards the back of the group. It was not moving as quickly as the others. Ah! Here was his prize. He imagined the pride on Woman's face, the joy in Son's eyes. Their bellies would be filled for many days from such a seal.

Man crept towards the last seal. It did not see him, or so Man thought. Suddenly, it sprang away and slipped into the water. Man rose to his feet. He was filled with a strange emotion. He felt water begin to drip from his eyes. He touched his eyes and tasted the drops. Yes, they tasted like salty water. Strange choking sounds were coming from his mouth and chest.

Son heard the cries of Man and called Woman. They ran to the seashore to find out what was wrong with Man. Woman and Son were alarmed to see water flowing out of Man's eyes.

Man told them about the shore filled with seals. He told how he had hunted them, and how every seal had escaped his knife. As he spoke, water began to flow from the eyes of Woman and Son, and they cried with Man. In this way, people first learned to weep.

Later, Man and Son hunted a seal together. They killed it and used its skin to make snares for more seals.

Comments

awsome; BY; BRANDY

Posted by: BJ | September 10, 2010 09:19 PM

AW. this is sad. LOL :(

Posted by: Ryan Dawson | September 15, 2010 09:32 AM

Cool, cool

Posted by: Spaulding | September 20, 2010 11:18 PM

Posted by: Spaulding | September 20, 2010 11:19 PM

Im so fat Now!!!!!!

Posted by: Matthew | September 23, 2010 12:00 PM

One word AWSOME!!!!

Posted by: Kk | September 28, 2010 04:52 PM

It's about a man who learns to cry. He's never had that feeling anymore & when it finally came about, it kinda shocked him in a way that he had to have other people help him with the way that he felt. As his son & his wife went through it with him, all three of them got the feeling of what it's like to cry.

I think that this came about, because many people don't know what it feels like to feel real feeling until they have cried.

Posted by: Candis Matthews | September 29, 2010 10:25 AM

How sad...:(

Posted by: Patricia Jimenez | September 30, 2010 11:57 AM

holly crap

Posted by: MAKENZIE BLAIR | October 1, 2010 11:03 AM

I can't believe they killed a seal!But a great story!

Posted by: Emma | October 2, 2010 11:38 AM

wow

Posted by: Anonymous | October 4, 2010 07:16 PM

poor seals!!!
but really, i don't get the point. they learned to cry? i didn't think you had to LEARN, i thought it was just a reaction

Posted by: chloe | October 5, 2010 06:39 PM