The Oceans

I had never seen the ocean before. I wept when I saw it. Fear swooped down upon me like a bird, like a roc. Its talons clutched at my heart.
I was accustomed to the river. It went by us silently, in one direction. You knew what it was about all the time.
The ocean was a two headed beast. It went both ways. First it came at us, attacking like the leopard, making great roaring noises and threatening to eat us alive. Then it retreated, creeping backward, making smaller hissing noises. Only to return with even greater force.

(From my mother`s experience)