Ancient Chinese mythology records

Of the eight immortals

En route to a conference of the magical peach

When they encounter an ocean

Clockwise in the boat: He Xian’gu, Han Xiang Zi, Lan Caihe, Li Tieguai,

Lü Dongbin, Zhongli Quan, Cao Guojiu, and Zhang Guo Lao.

Descendants of a man, Nuah

The eight immortals cross the sea

Each reveals its divine powers.

The Indians tell an old tale

Of a horned-fish Matsya Vishnu’s avatar

Instructing Vaivasvata Manu to build a ship

To keep him and the seven sages from a great flood

Indeed Manu does obey

And the eight perish not

For Matsya does steer the ship to the Himalayas.

Egyptian records also tell

Through tales of the god Ra

Who sends his daughter Sekhmet to punish humanity

Resulting in a great flood of blood

And Nut does hold

A boat with eight deities.

And what of Judaism?

Perhaps a more detailed version?

Nay, a more terrible account of events

Eight in a boat

Saved from a global deluge

That wiped a highly intellectual

Yet sinful Antideluvians from the face of the Earth.

No ancient civilization lacks the culture

Of a global flood

Eight in a boat

Spared a species from annihilation

Perhaps men ought to look not into the future

But back to the ancient

And learn of the terrible consequences of evil

For we fast approach the days of Noah

And God’s cup of wrath

Does overflow with retribution.