i was but clay, so cold and unrefined.
you were the brightest star that shone at night.
by weeds and ivy vines i was entwined.
above me, you would shroud me in your light.
night after night breath slowly stirred within
my lungs, and on my tongue you did impart
a will to speak. my clay became like skin.
your light had burned "emet" upon my heart.
from then i would wait for the night to fall
by writing of your beauty in the earth,
and when you lit the dusk i was enthralled.
no kingdom held what you, to me, were worth.
one night Sahu descended from the sky
and said, "come, let me take you to her place
in Heaven, where she longs to take you by
the hand, that you may gaze upon her face."
"what ever could i give a burning star?
i come from dirt, and she is made of flame!"
a serpent born of doubt had burrowed far
beneath my heart and whispered words of shame.
i turned away from him. i turned from you,
and thinking myself wise, i hoped in vain
that both of us, apart, would each accrue
whatever Fate would want us to attain.
the night gave way to day, and dusk to dawn.
the sands of time fell quickly without you.
the nights i spent in bliss were soon foregone,
forsaken for a serpent's words untrue.
once more my breath grew still, my body rife
with weeds. the ivy vines once more took hold
of everything that you had given life.
the clay that you gave warmth once more grew cold.
the word upon my heart would soon read "met,"
and knowing this, i used my final breath
to beg Sahu: "please make the star forget
that i had ever been. leave me to death."
once more, Sahu descended from the sky.
"you are a fool! how can you fail to see?
just as your clay grows cold, her light will die.
cast out the lying serpent! come with me."
he lifted me and placed me on his barque.
he whispered wind into the stellar sails.
the hull caressed the heavens; in the dark,
the stars we passed left light behind in trails.
Sahu withdrew his whispers and we stalled
above you, and i saw your light was dim.
after my breath returned to me, i called
to you: "i was not born with seraphim.
no, i was born of earth, of dust and clay.
i thought our union all the Fates forbade.
from heavens high, now i will dare to say:
the hand of God was flawed when we were made.
He gave me shape, but did not give me light.
He gave you light, but did not give you shape.
i will not let your splendor fade away;
i take the fault of God and set it right!"
i dove below. your fire took my hand,
and soon your light took all of Heaven too.
our grandeur filled the ocean and the land.
you gave me light. i gave my form to you.