This poem is a retelling of two narratives: the first is about the mythical Japanese Empress Jingu, who borrowed tide-controlling jewels from the dragon god Ryujin to wage war against Korea; the second is about the Siege of Suncheon (1598) during the Imjin Wars (1592-1598). In both narratives, the Japanese forces gained victory over the enemy fleet when the ocean tides unexpectedly receded, causing the ships to get stuck in the shallows - a fascinating phenomenon where mythology echoes into history.

The form I used is based on the Bussokuseki-katai, which is a type of Japanese poetry often inscribed on Buddha's footprint stones (bussokuseki) found at various temples throughout Japan. It has a 5-7-5-7-7-7 syllable count, and typically conveys Buddhist teachings.