A Story of Stars
Long ago, our starry nights
Were long and hard, bereft of light
The people wished to see their way
without relying on the day
And so they thought and thought and thought
But all that thinking came to naught
What on earth could light the skies?
What spark of fire never dies?
They took this matter to the king
For he knew nearly everything
A great laugh burst forth, a challenge indeed!
The king would sate the people’s need.
He knew at once what must be done
He must create a midnight sun
He gathered up his kingly might
And set about his task that night
A whisper ran through all the land
A great new world was close at hand
But the people did not know
Just how far the king would go!
He traveled up the highest mount
Up more steps than one could count
And at the top, he met a friend!
The king asked the sun what it could lend.
The sun just smiled, then she said:
“You do not know what lies ahead,
But I shall grant you this one gift:
Take these coals, but run, be swift!”
“If they meet a wind too strong
Or if they burn for far too long,
They will go out, my dearest friend
Then your quest will surely end.”
“Place them in the inky sky,
And then their fire will not die.
Your love for all your people shows
In the night that sparks aglow.”
The king bowed in thanks, and started back
To give the world the light it lacked
When he returned to his home,
He sat upon his brilliant throne.
“Call my subjects!” said the king
“Tell them I have just the thing!
These coals have come right from the sun!
Soon the darkness will be done.”
The people of the kingdom came
To investigate our wise king’s claim
And so when the next night fell,
The king addressed his people well:
He threw the coals up to the sky
And then it seemed they learned to fly!
They scattered all across the dark
Finally, a brilliant spark!
Alas, the wind, it grew and grew!
The final, brightest coal was through!
Its fire faded, the people sighed
It seems they would not get their light
The sun herself was looking on
And knew the king’s last coal was gone
She traveled quickly, down to earth
And then she said, “For what it’s worth:
“I know a way, just one, mind you,
To light this coal, once red, now blue,
You must believe in its strong light
And hang it yourself in the brand new night.”
The king knew that this awesome feat
Was near impossible to complete
“But for the people!” he said aloud,
“I will make my subjects proud!”
He hefted the coal upon his back
To chase away the night so black
He climbed the stairs he climbed before,
So his people could see forevermore
The subjects were worried for their king
He could not do everything!
So they rallied behind him, lent him their might
All together, they beat back the night!
The king trudged up the mountain, spurred by their love
And finally hung this coal far above
The people, they cheered, and at last,
The total darkness was a thing of the past!
Folks came from countries, near and far
To see the things the king called “stars.”
They marveled at the shining night
Then turned their eyes to the greatest light!
The coal the king placed with the help of his friends
Shines over mountains, fields, and glens
That great coal is now called the moon
And it won’t burn out anytime soon.
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Children’s book assignment for my Creative Writing class
It’s a little too long :(