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JOSIE'S POEMS

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Poems about

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Legend in Rhyming Poetry

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By Josie Whitehead

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Legend of the Moon Festival - Heading .j

THE LEGEND
OF THE MOON FESTIVAL


By Josie Whitehead

Legend of the Moon Festival (The)

It’s quite hard to believe, but I’m told it is true,
That ten suns used to shine in a sky of pure blue.
     An emperor looked up and then shook his wise head:
     'Surely one sun is better, I think,' he then said.

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So he called forth his archer, who looked at the sky.
'You are perfectly right,' he replied with a sigh.
      'Where’s your bow and your arrows?' the emperor said.
      'You get rid of nine suns leaving just one instead!'

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Now a man, like this archer - a man hard to find - 
Then disposed of nine suns leaving just one behind.
      The great skill that he’d shown, could not be ignored
      And the Goddess of Heaven gave him a reward.

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He expected some payment for the skill he had shown,
But what went in his hand caused an almighty groan.
      'A small pill? What is this? It's of no use to me!
       I am perfectly fit as you surely must see.'

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The Emperor smiled: 'This is not just a pill -
It’s good payment for you for your excellent skill.
     Take this pill, but tell no-one, not even your wife,
     For, as payment, this pill will ensure endless life.'

'I'll be living forever?  Oh that requires thought,' -
And this naturally made him feel rather distraught.
     But to whom should he turn, for some help or advice
     For perhaps immortality carried a price?

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There was only one person to whom he could turn
And his wife listened well as she quickly did learn
      Of the pill in his pocket.  She waited till night
      And then, whilst he was sleeping, crept out in delight.

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'I will live on forever!  Old age?  Not for me!'
As she took out the pill, she cried out with much glee.
   
  With one gulp it had gone and she squealed with delight
      And the joy in her heart overflowed on that night.

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So the price for her thieving?  She learnt of this soon
For she quickly was banished to life on the moon.
      Yes, she's still living there - such a long way away -
       But her beauty is shown to us just on one day:

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The Moon Festival comes only once in a year.
It’s a day of festivity, parties and cheer -
      And it’s then that this lady looks down from on high
      When her immortal beauty lights up the night sky.

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The old man in the moon, with kind thoughts in his head,
Sends down his best wishes to couples who wed
     At the time of the Moonfest and, coupled in love,
     
They are showered with blessings from the lady above.

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