In the Land of the Midnight Sun

Long ago, in the fastness of the north lived a people known as the Inuit. They lived in perpetual darkness. Although they had heard of light from Crow they at first would not believe him. They made him repeat this fairy tale many times, for it sparked imagination. Imagine how long they could hunt. Imagine seeing polar bear before he saw them. They begged Crow to find and bring the light. “But I am too old and daylight is far to the south”. After much begging the old crow relented. He flew through many dark miles of the north and just as he was about to change his mind he saw light - - - just a speck on the horizon. Suddenly light burst upon him as the daylight world exploded around him in brilliance. He had to stop and rest and comprehend this wonder of wonders called light. He noticed the blue sky, the blue stream and the young girl walking back to a village. She carried a pail of the blue water as she passed beneath the tree in which he rested. Turning into a small speck of dust, she did not notice Crow as he drifted into her parka. As they neared the village, Crow saw a young boy playing with a ball of daylight, bouncing on a string. Crow flew from her coat, and grabbed the ball. He flew into the endless blue sky, the ball of daylight trailing along behind him. Waiting impatiently, the Inuit saw a tiny speck of light moving towards them in the darkness. Soon it grew brighter and brighter and Crow dropped it in the center of their village. It exploded into a burst of light, revealing everything. It illuminated every dark corner and chased away shadow. But as the Inuit danced and celebrated Crow told them the light would not last forever. The ball of light would have to rest for six months each year in order to gain its strength back. “Half a year of daylight is enough” the Inuit said and to this day they build their lives around six months of day and six months of night. An Inuit myth retold by S.E. Schlosser, made into this poem July 15 2012 By: Charles Henderson ©