Sun and Moon (A Nigerian Myth), poem by Nettie Farris (Mythic Poetry Series)

SUN AND MOON (A NIGERIAN MYTH)
by Nettie Farris

Long ago,
Sun and Moon lived

on earth.
The adventurous

sort, Sun
would often visit Sea,

while Moon,
more domestic,

stayed at home.
Finally, Sea

agreed to visit Sun
and Moon.

Moon was not pleased.
However,

she agreed
to be hospitable.

So, eventually, Sea
arrived. She arrived,

and she kept arriving,
bringing along

all her friends
with her: squid, whale,

porpoise, and octopi.
“Is there room for me?”

asked Sea.
And Sun replied, “Of course

there is.”
So Sea continued,

bringing along
angel fish and sea urchin.

“Are you sure
there’s room for me?”

asked Sea.
And Sun replied,

“Of course there is.”
(Though moon

was not at all certain.)
So Sea continued,

bringing along
piranha and starfish.

Soon enough,
Sun and Moon were up

to their attic
with Sea, but still,

she kept arriving.
And now, Sun and Moon

live far apart in the sky,
and Moon likes it that way.

IMAGE: “Moon Goddess,” Nigerian wood mask available at Novica.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nettie Farris lives in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, and is the author of Communion (Accents Publishing, 2013). In 2011, she received the Kudzu Poetry Prize. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.