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The swallow was often
the first sign sailors saw when approaching land and, as
such, they became a symbol of hope and, later, one of
honor.
They were so revered by
sailors that after sailing five thousand miles a sailor
would have a swallow tattooed on his chest to proudly
display his ability to weather many storms at sea. After
ten thousand miles a second swallow-tattoo would be added
to the other side of his chest.
I was reminded of this
legend while visiting our nearby beach on Whidbey Island
(Washington). I saw this swallow resting on a stump of
driftwood and wondered if it was beckoning to a certain
sailor in the nearby ocean.
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