Ödet, Inyeon, and Other Myths

In ancient tales of Greece, they say

Humans had four arms, four legs and two faces.

We were so happy that the Gods,

Fearing our wholeness, 

cleaved us into two,

Leaving our split selves to wander the earth in misery,

Forever yearning the half we lost that day.

The Koreans call it Inyeon,

Where relationships are predetermined by fate.

Even a chance encounter on a bustling street

Where two strangers’ paths fleetingly meet

And their clothes, in passing, lightly touch

Is given the name of Inyeon.

And when eight thousand of such encounters pass,

Across eight thousand lifetimes or more,

The two are finally wed as soulmates.

The Japanese too believe in fate,

Although it doesn’t exactly have a name.

For centuries, they have passed on the tale.

The one of two people bound by a crimson thread.

This thread may stretch or tangle, but never break.

And the two will end up lovers, regardless of circumstance, time, or place.

The Swedish call this belief in destiny Ödet and the Dutch call it Zielsverwant.

In every language spoken by humankind, there exists a word, a concept, for fate.

Maybe we just like to believe that somewhere out there in the vast universe, 

There exists someone whose love knows no bounds.

Someone meant just for us.