Salvina of Meclaq and the Reed in Her Hand
Salvina lived in a small room within her field, together with her beloved reed, which she cherished deeply. Salvina of Meclaq had remained unmarried, so she kept a small reed with her—a tiny reed she would rest alongside on her bed, placed right on the same straw mattress. She called the reed “Pizu” because it resembled the shape of an eye; whenever she called to it, it would seem to respond by making a “kwak kwak” sound, like a signal to come closer.
One early morning, as dawn began to break and drizzle lightly, Salvina noticed that her reed, Pizu, was missing. She began searching through the fields and calling out to it, but there was only silence. Increasingly worried that Pizu was gone, she murmured to herself that someone might have stolen her precious reed.
Quickly, she approached the statue of Saint Anthony, which was hung on the wall of her room, battered but still standing. She promised Saint Anthony that if she found her reed, she would create a great devotion to him and walk barefoot throughout her entire field as a sign of gratitude.
With renewed hope, Salvina set out at dawn to search the surrounding fields, calling out for her reed, “Pizu, Pizu, where are you?”
Salvina and Her Reed
Salvina had a little reed,
Her special friend, a tiny seed.
She kept it close both night and day,
And called it Pizu — “Come, let’s play!”
One morning when the sun was new,
She looked around — where did it go?
She called out loud, “Pizu, come back!”
But all she heard was nature’s track.
She prayed to Saint Anthony near,
“Please help my reed, bring it here!”
She promised thanks, a walk so sweet,
Barefoot walking on the street.
At dawn she searched the fields around,
And listened for a gentle sound.
“Pizu, Pizu, where are you?”
Salvina’s heart hoped it was true.
