as the Moon rose and the hour grew late
|
the day help on a Coconut estate
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raked up the dry leaves that fell dead from the Trees
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which they burned in a pile by the lake
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the Beetle King summoned his men,
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and from the top of a Rhododendron stem:
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'calling all volunteers!
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who can carry back here
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the Great Mystery that's lit once again?'
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one Beetle emerged from the crowd
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in a fashionable abdomen shroud:
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'I'm a Professor, you see, that's no mystery to me...
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I'll be back soon, successful and proud'
|
but when the Beetle Professor returned
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he crawled on all six, as his wings had been burned
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and described to the finest detail all he'd learned
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but there was neither a light nor a heat in his words
|
the deeply dissatisfied King
|
climbed the same stem to announce the same thing
|
but his second appeal sought to sweeten the deal
|
with a silver Padparadscha ring
|
the Lieutenant stepped out from the line
|
as he lassoed his thorax with twine, thinking
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'I'm stronger and braver,
|
I'll earn the Kin's favor, and
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One day all he has will be mine!'
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but for all the Lieutenant's conceit
|
he, too, returned singed and admitting defeat:
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'I had no choice, please believe, but retreat...
|
it was as bright as the sun, but with ten times the heat!
|
it cracked like the thunder and bloodshot my eyes,
|
thought smothered with sticks it advanced undeterred
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as it carelessly cast an ash cloud to the sky,
|
my Lord, like a flock of
|
d a r k, v a n i s h i n g b i r d s.'
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the Beetle King slammed down his fist:
|
'why, your flowery description
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is no better than his!
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we sent for the Great Light and you bring us this??
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we didn't ask what it seems like,
|
we asked what it IS!
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O, His Majesty's hour at last has drawn nigh!'
|
the elegant Queen took her leave from his side and,
|
without understanding but without asking why
|
gathered their Kids to come bid their goodbyes
|
the father explained:
|
'you've been somewhat deceived...
|
you've all called me your dad,
|
but your True Dad's not me
|
no, I lay next to your mom
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and your forms were conceived
|
but your Father is the Life within all that you see
|
He fills up the ponds as he empties the clouds,
|
holds without hands and speaks without sounds,
|
provides us with the Cow's waste and coconuts to eat
|
giving one that nice salt-taste and the other a sweet,
|
sends the black carriage the day Death shows its face
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thinning our numbers with Kindness and Grace
|
and just as a Flower and its Fragrance are one
|
so must each of you and this Father become
|
now distribute my scepter, my crown and my throne
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and all we've called "wealth" to the poor and alone...'
|
and, without further hesitation,
|
without looking back home
|
the King flew headlong into the blazing unknown!
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and as the Smoke King curled higher and higher,
|
the troops, flying loops around the telephone wire, said:
|
'our Beloved's not dead,
|
but His Highness instead
|
has been utterly changed into Fire!!!'
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(why not be utterly changed into Fire??)
|
|
-----------------
|
the King Beetle on a Coconut Estate
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Mewithoutyou (Me Without You) |