hunter’s moon
East of the Sun, West of the Moon
In wild weather rough and dark
a White Bear peaks through rain
into the window of a poor woodcutter
with too many children to feed
the White Bear asks to buy
the youngest, prettiest girl
for a fortune unended
but she says no
so the father works her guilt
while the Bear returns each night
until she agrees
and rides off on the Bear’s back
to a fine castle of gold and silver
with a magic wishing bell
where on her first night of sleep
the Bear becomes a man who lies beside her
night after night midst luxuries untold
until she becomes homesick
so White Bear takes her back for a visit
after she makes certain promises
which she promptly breaks
and lies about
leading her to discover White Bear of day
is handsome man of night
but in her dishonesty loses him
back to his wicked stepmother
living east of the sun west of the moon
where she cannot follow
but goes looking
people help
loan her horses
give her a golden apple
and a golden comb
and a golden spinning wheel
which she carries to the east wind
who carries her to the west wind
who takes her to the south wind
who bundles her to his brother north wind
who finally gets her there
where an unpretty long-nosed troll princess
is to marry the Bear prince
but our heroine gives the troll
the golden apple in return for one night
with the prince
but troll princess drugs him
and he doesn’t see the girl
so she buys another night with the comb
but again he’s drugged
so a third and final night is purchased
with the golden spinning wheel
and the prince’s friends
tell him of the crying girl in his room
the past two nights
so he doesn’t drink sleep potion
and he and the girl embrace
and plot against the long nosed princess
he’s to marry tomorrow
by creating an impossible task for long nose
which she’ll lose
causing her and her troll mother’s heads
to explode in rage
so our lying deceitful flesh bartering couple
can live happily ever after
with a White Bear rug on the floor
giving us this story of
buying children, sleeping with them
breaking promises and lying about it
and girls selling nights to their betrothed
with the liars winning happy ever after
which in these days
is pretty good stuff to teach your children
to survive in the real world where
the forked-tongued, the rich
and the two-faced rule
– Smith, 10.18.2016
moon water