Dawn of Night

The Sun hangs low in the Western sky,
An angry, broiling red.
My heart slumps low with it too;
I am pained and saddened.

All day I and Sun
Had waltzed free together.
We blazed so bright, scorching all,
Burning every tether.

We'd risen together that morning,
Fresh and cool for a new day.
But although my heart was pure and sweet,
Sun was not perfect in every way.

We danced together in the East,
Setting golden fire to gray.
I was full of freedom and joy,
Wrapped tight in Sun's rays.

But as we reached the zenith sky,
Sun became hot and red.
In place of nourishing one and all,
He scorched them with his beams instead.

I danced with him in this way;
I thought 'twas all in fun,
Till the people began to scream,
And plants died, one by one.

Sun began to chuckle and chortle,
And blazed on, ever bright.
He laughed and pointed with a beam,
"Look, my dear, at this sight!"

Then I saw the people dying,
Fainting, one by one.
"Stop, Sun, stop at once!
This is no longer fun!"

"Oh, come, my dear, have some humor!"
Sun laughed indulgently.
"If it brings me joy, it's all right;
It's fine if it doesn't harm me."

So Sun blazed on and on,
Although I beg'd and pled.
"Look at me, indestructible!
Only evening can defeat me!" he said.

Desperately, I summoned Night;
She strode from the edge of the world.
She came forth, cold and dark,
And uttered these frigid words:

"I can undo all you've done,
Cause all this pain to vanish.
But, dear heart, you and Sun
I must together banish."

"No!" I cried,
"There must be some other way!
I cannot go on with Sun,
Not for another day!"

Night stared at me with sadness in her eye.
"Then back to the darkness, I will go,"
She replied with grief.
"But now this world will know naught but sorrow."

"All right," I agreed, with tears in my eyes;
Bitter fire burned at my heart.
"You may banish Sun and I;
I'm willing to do my part."

So Night cast ropes about us both,
To drag us forth to banish.
"Stop!" cried Sun, "Don't you care
That you, too, will vanish?"

I turned away, with tear in eye,
I knew the very same.
But then I steeled myself to do my part,
To rid the Earth of pain.

So now I can hear the Earth sighing,
E'en now as it fades from sight.
I can feel the cool wind blowing;
It's the Dawn of Night.