I need an analogy

Analogies are powerful things. They control the scope of the story. Old people use analogies to tell their stories because the wealth of subtleties in the original story can easily overwhelm the child who is listening. Sometimes when you use an analogy, you successfully fill gaps you otherwise couldn't fill in the original story. Perhaps you can even map the solution back to the original story.

I use analogies because my original story is too painful, too confusing and too overwhelming to tell. The original story, just like my analogy, is still in the making and is happening now. There are many unknowns. But by using the analogy, I get to crop out things that are irrelevant or boring. In great fiction, this is perhaps one of the weaker ways of writing. But the fact that my story is happening now makes the analogy an exploration tool rather than a preaching tool.

While we're on the subject of exploration, I should confess that 2-3 nights ago I couldn't resist swimming towards a new spot close to the shore where I've found flames under water. The spot has been a favorite place of swimming in the decade I have been sentenced by circumstances to be confined to this island. But recently I noticed the spot in flames. I went in. I don't care. I want to break this sentence. I have no fear of the flame. Well I should probably mention that with this particular one, there was more pleasure and less of the feeling of burning to death. Tonight I went back to the old spot where the sensation was indeed of burning, and I can confirm that it still is.


I can't help you understand how the pirate story maps to the real world. But I can guarantee that as you read on, you will be able to slowly map it to your own reality and see yourself as the main character. You might not believe me now, but we'll get there. Meanwhile I can only provide hints, clues and rare directed brush strokes to paint the canvas more recognizably.