How the Big Dipper Came to Be

Written for Sugar Cube's mini slam, round 9 finals

How the Big Dipper Came to Be

The ancient monk
On Mt. Fuji walked
In winter, spring,
Summer and fall,

And as he walked,
He often stopped
By a temple pond
On his daily walks.

There he’d sit
And sell his tea
To weary pilgrims
Like you and me.

On a brazier small
He’d steep it all
In a teapot round
And grey and small.

He'd dip it out
And serve it up
In cups filled with
Moonlight and stars,

Then on his solemn
Way he would go,
To another temple
Along the way.

One day He walked
To Oblivion it’s said;
Sad but true, the
Old monk was dead.

But his legend lives on!
Just look to the sky,
And behold his dipper
With your own eyes.

Scooping up tea
From the milky way
And raining it down
On you and me.