| As the moon rose and the hour grew late
|
| The day-help on the coconut estate
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| Raked up the dried leaves that fell dead from the trees
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| Which they burned in a pile by the lake
|
| The beetle king summoned his men
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| From the top of the rhododendron stem
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| «Calling all volunteers who can carry it back here
|
| The Great Mystery has been lit once again»
|
| One beetle emerged from the crowd
|
| In a fashionable abdomen shroud
|
| Said, «I'm a professor, you see, that’s no mystery to me
|
| I’ll be back soon, successful and proud»
|
| But when the beetle professor returned
|
| He crawled on all six, as his wings had been burned
|
| And described to the finest detail all he’d learned
|
| 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 in 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, «I'm stronger and braver and I’ll earn the king’s favor
|
| One day all he has will be mine»
|
| But for all the lieutenant’s conceit
|
| He too returned singed and admitting defeat
|
| «I had no choice, please believe, but retreat
|
| It was bright as the sun, but with ten times the heat
|
| And it cracked like the thunder and bloodshot my eyes
|
| Though smothered with sticks, it advanced undeterred
|
| Carelessly cast an ash cloud to the sky, my lord
|
| Like a flock of dark vanishing birds"
|
| The beetle king slammed down his fist
|
| «Your flowery description’s no better than his!
|
| We sent for the great light and you bring us this?
|
| We didn’t ask what it seems like, we asked what it is!»
|
| His Majesty’s hour at last is drawn nigh
|
| The elegant Queen took her leave from his side
|
| Without understanding, but without asking why
|
| Gathered their kids to come bid their goodbyes
|
| And the father explained, «You've been somewhat deceived
|
| We’ve all called me your dad, but your true Dad’s not me
|
| I lay next to your mom and your forms were conceived
|
| Your Father’s the light within all that you see
|
| He fills up the ponds as He empties the clouds
|
| Holds without hands and He speaks without sounds
|
| He 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
|
| Thinning our numbers with kindness and grace
|
| And just as a flower and its fragrance are one
|
| So must each of you and your Father become
|
| Now distribute my scepter, my crown, and my throne
|
| And all we’ve known as wealth to the poor and alone"
|
| Without further hesitation, without looking back home
|
| The king flew headlong into the blazing unknown
|
| And as the smoke king curled higher and higher
|
| The troops flying loops around the telephone wires
|
| They said, «Our beloved’s not dead, but His Highness instead
|
| Has been utterly changed into fire»
|
| Why not be utterly changed into fire?
|
| Why not be utterly changed into fire?
|
| Why not be utterly changed into fire?
|
| Why not be utterly changed into fire?
|
| Why not be utterly changed into fire?
|
| Why not be utterly changed into fire?
|
| Why not be utterly changed into fire?
|
| Why not be utterly changed into fire? |