How The Moon Came To Be

 
In the beginning a giant god held the horizon 
cupped in his hands. 
When he opened them, it was day; 
when he closed them, it was night. 
Once this giant did not open his hands for a thousand years. 
The gods were upset but did nothing
until a god who had never seen the giant
 flew through a crack in the sky
 and crawled out between his fingers. 
She found him sitting on a stone,
barely able to keep his eyes open.  
 
You are tired, she said. Why don't you rest?
 
I am holding an horizon in my hands, he replied.
I cannot put it down.  

Why not? asked the god. 
 
If I put it down, it will grow cold, answered the giant.
 
If you keep it locked away in your hands, 
it will die of darkness, said the god.
 
What am I to do? asked the weary giant.
 
I will join you, said the god. 
Then while I sleep, you can hold the horizon in your hands;
and while you sleep, I can hold it in mine.
 
And that is how the Moon came to be,
 and why the Sun shares its light with her.  
   

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