In the coastal village of Budaiya, where the scent of salt and the rhythm of waves ruled each day, lived a young man known for his bravery in the sea. Among Bahrain’s pearl divers, he was admired for his strength, yet his eyes often lingered on the horizon longer than most. One night, he dreamt of a vast black oyster deep beyond the reefs, inside it, a single pearl glowed like a star in a night tide.
In the world of the diver, dreams were more than sleep’s illusions; they were whispers of the sea’s will. The next morning, he told his captain about his dream, but the older man shook his head. “That place is cursed,” he warned. “Many have gone there and never returned.” The young diver nodded but said nothing. For three nights the dream came again, clearer each time, until he could almost feel the oyster’s pulse calling his name.
Before dawn on the fourth day, he rowed out alone. The sky was a faded silver, and the sea lay still as glass. He whispered a prayer to the sea, asking for forgiveness and courage, then plunged into the depths. Down he went past corals and darting fish until the light dimmed into shadow. There, beyond the reefs where no diver dared, he saw it, the great black oyster, opening and closing as though alive.
He reached out with trembling hands. The oyster opened just enough for him to see inside, not a shining gem, but a single tear, suspended and shimmering in the dark water. Startled, he seized it and kicked toward the surface as a deep current pulled at his legs. When he broke through the waves, gasping, the sky was calm, and the sea around him glowed faintly as if in blessing. In his palm, the tear hardened into a perfect pearl, pale and flawless as moonlight.
When he returned to the shore, the others gathered around him in awe. “What did you find?” they asked. The young diver smiled softly. “The sea gave me its soul once,” he said. “To ask again would be greed.” From that day, he never dove again. He lived simply, content with the treasure he had been given, not the pearl itself, but the peace it brought to his heart.
Moral
True treasure comes only once; wisdom is knowing when to stop seeking more.
Knowledge Check
-
Who was the main character in “The Pearl Diver’s Dream”?
The story’s main character is a young pearl diver from Budaiya, Bahrain. -
What did the diver dream of?
He dreamt of a glowing pearl hidden in a black oyster beyond the reefs. -
Why did the captain warn the diver?
The captain said the waters beyond the reefs were cursed and dangerous. -
What did the diver actually find inside the oyster?
He found a single tear, which transformed into a perfect pearl when he surfaced. -
What is the moral of this Bahraini folktale?
It teaches that gratitude and contentment are greater treasures than greed. -
What cultural element does this story reflect?
The tale reflects Bahrain’s traditional pearl-diving heritage and respect for the sea’s power.
Source: Adapted from The Pearl Diver’s Dream, University of Bahrain Folktale Project (Dhiya Al-Kaabi et al., 2019), collected from diver Abdulla bin Saeed Al-Nuaimi, oral narrative no. 12.
Cultural Origin: Bahrain (Pearl-diving folklore)
