A long, long time ago when all the Gods loved the land
There lived a hunter of great skill but a very prideful man
He claimed that he could never miss a target before his eye
And that if ever the day did happen he would surely die
Now this boastful man would strut around
And look down on everyone
And so the people of his little town
Set to have some fun
A cunning man of many years stared at the sun at noon
And in a flash of inspiration said
“Hunter! Hunt the moon”
Now the hunter’s pride had been stung
As the people of this town
All stared at him with mockery so he cried “I’ll hunt her down!”
That night the moon shone brightly, ‘gloating’ or so he thought
So the hunter took his trusty bow, took aim and in one shot
Pierced the moon upon her side but still she shone above
The villagers just laughed at him and said that was not enough
So for 14 nights the hunter fired from the bow his arrows
Until the people watched on terrified as moon light turned to shadow
“Enough!” they cried \"you’ve proved your point!
You’re the best that’s ever been.
Now please put back the light above
So that we can again all see\"
Now the hunter with his pride appeased
Looked upon the darkened crowd
He could see the fear in all their eyes
And realised what he’d done
Although his pride had beaten him
He was not an unkind man
And realising he had done wrong
Prayed to the gods of this green land
“My pride has brought on darkness!
I’ve destroyed the light you made.
Please allow me to make amends
This moon I will remake!”
The goddess of the winds and rain took pity on the man
So she flew him up to the heavens to bring light to the darkened land
The hunter thought long and hard about what he had to do
And then he realised the light to use was the light from his own soul
For fourteen nights the hunter shot the light of life he owned
And every time the arrow loosed the moon began to show
But every twang of bow and arrow was a year lost from this man
But forgiveness was what he sought for his pride had changed the land
And as he fired the last of his life to the moon who shone in the dark
The gods had watched this courageous man so turned him into stars
The moon from then on would come and go
A cycle of 28 days
To remind the people down below
Pride and mockery were not the way
But this lesson has not been learnt
As man so easily forgets
But the hunter shines on and on
Because he put his pride to rest