"I do not like this. I would be the moon. It looks cool."
The wise man spake yet again, "Be the moon." And he was the moon.
"This is warmer than being the sun," murmured he, "for the light from the sun shines on me ever. I do not want to be the moon. I would be a smith again. That, verily, is the best life."
But the wise man replied, "I am weary of your changing. You wanted to be the moon; the moon you are, and it you will remain."
And in yon high heaven lives he to this day.
...
Years passed, and the eight sons of this moon, who was once a man, were growing. They often looked up to the skies to see their father, and grew very jealous of him. They, just like their father, wanted to be something else than what they were. They envied his life, which was extended in space and surrounded by millions of stars. They too, wanted to be the moon. The wise man, who had power over all things, heard the children complain about their present lives every day. So, he came to them.
"Children, go be the moon."
"But there is already a moon, and it is our father! How will we take that away from him?," the children replied.
"Ah, but there is much you do not know about the moon. Each day you see the moon, glowing. He stands bright during the nights, and although sometimes invisible, he still glows during the day. Your father did not realize the consequences of his wish until he served as the moon day in and day out. He is growing tired. I have been hearing your cries, and have decided that you eight can serve as his helpers. Be the moon when he cannot."
And so the eight sons came to be the eight phases of the moon: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
Bibliography: Myth-Folklore Anthology; Origin Stories: The Moon.
Author's Note:
I based this off of the Anthology story Origins. I decided to continue the story and tell yet another origin story of the moon, but this time come up with the origin of its waning and waxing phases. The first part of my story incorporates the ending of the original story. The original story tells of a blacksmith who wanted to be a stone, and a wise man made him so. But then he realized he wanted to be a stone cutter, then the sun, and then the moon. At the end, he revealed that the life of the blacksmith was the best life of all of them, and wanted to go back. However, the wise man did not let him. I just continued it by having the story set years after the fact, and had the eight sons complete their father's role in the sky. I hope you all liked my continuation! :)
The wise man spake yet again, "Be the moon." And he was the moon.
"This is warmer than being the sun," murmured he, "for the light from the sun shines on me ever. I do not want to be the moon. I would be a smith again. That, verily, is the best life."
But the wise man replied, "I am weary of your changing. You wanted to be the moon; the moon you are, and it you will remain."
And in yon high heaven lives he to this day.
...
Years passed, and the eight sons of this moon, who was once a man, were growing. They often looked up to the skies to see their father, and grew very jealous of him. They, just like their father, wanted to be something else than what they were. They envied his life, which was extended in space and surrounded by millions of stars. They too, wanted to be the moon. The wise man, who had power over all things, heard the children complain about their present lives every day. So, he came to them.
"Children, go be the moon."
"But there is already a moon, and it is our father! How will we take that away from him?," the children replied.
"Ah, but there is much you do not know about the moon. Each day you see the moon, glowing. He stands bright during the nights, and although sometimes invisible, he still glows during the day. Your father did not realize the consequences of his wish until he served as the moon day in and day out. He is growing tired. I have been hearing your cries, and have decided that you eight can serve as his helpers. Be the moon when he cannot."
And so the eight sons came to be the eight phases of the moon: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
Source: The phases of the moon step by step, as they appear in the sky.
Bibliography: Myth-Folklore Anthology; Origin Stories: The Moon.
Author's Note:
I based this off of the Anthology story Origins. I decided to continue the story and tell yet another origin story of the moon, but this time come up with the origin of its waning and waxing phases. The first part of my story incorporates the ending of the original story. The original story tells of a blacksmith who wanted to be a stone, and a wise man made him so. But then he realized he wanted to be a stone cutter, then the sun, and then the moon. At the end, he revealed that the life of the blacksmith was the best life of all of them, and wanted to go back. However, the wise man did not let him. I just continued it by having the story set years after the fact, and had the eight sons complete their father's role in the sky. I hope you all liked my continuation! :)
Hi Akriti!
ReplyDeleteI did not read a story about anthology, but your blog made me want to in the future! I think stories about the moon are very interesting, and I love how you decided to create your own story about the moon rather than changing the original story. This was a cool approach that I'll have to try in the future. Additionally, the waning and waxing phases was cool to read about - great job!!
Hi Akriti!
ReplyDeleteWow! This is an awesome story. I really enjoyed how you continued the story of the angsty smith who became the moon to include the phases of the moon and the sons of the man. I also thought that the way you continued the original cadence and tone of the story was a great way to add value to the original story.