What's That Thing In The Sky?

One night after dinner

(and a nice piece of pie)

We went out back

(just my brother and I)

And laid on the deck

And looked up at the sky.

The moon was there

But she wore a dark veil

And the stars, which are bright,

Seemed a little bit pale

‘Cause a shining… uhm… something

Was sprouting a tail!

That’s when he asked me

(Looked me straight in the eye)

And said, “Big brother…

What’s that thing in the sky?”

“Maybe we’ll guess it”, I said,

“Let’s try!”

He said, “It’s a fireworks train

On it’s way to the sun

In the dark you see flashlights

They shine just for fun!

I said, “Or maybe a sparkler

Dropped from the hands

Of a giant so large

You can’t see where he stands!

He chimed, “It’s the brush

Of the artist who colors the cloud

That passes at sunset

(He sure must be proud)!”

I gasped, “It’s the engine

Of a ship far out in space

Where Tickle-puss aliens

Search for a new place.”

Then Mom, who’d been listening

From the doorway awhile

Said, “It’s just a comet.”

But our game made her smile.

“Or… some magic wand glitter

Of a space king in exile!” 

Then Dad had to answer

In his very own style:

“It’s a leftover bit from where

The everythings begin

Which will keep goin’ round

‘Til the everything ends.

Like lightening, it’s pretty

And a faraway danger

Of which you’ll be careful

Like when meeting a stranger.

It’s just a space rock

Or an old piece of ice

Mostly just nothing

But the view sure is nice.”

As we sat there and watched

The big show over head

I heard us each sigh

Nothing more need be said…

But

How long, I wonder,

Will this story be read

To good kids (like you)

That are heading to bed?

Author's Note

O how I'd love to meet an illustrator wishing to collaborate for just splitting whatever profits might come.

Reviews

[Michael X]

The moon was there
But she wore a dark veil
barry, i can say tracy captured my thoughts, you should publish this writing
as it captures the sentiment in youth in a way the leaves the reader moved
and no doubt would make an impact, i can see where you are going with this
book, its brilliantly done, loving caring and endearing, painted imagery.

[T]

FABULOUS! I'm a reading teacher in an elementary school, and the one genre we desperately lack is--- POETRY!! Find an illustrator, beg and agent to represent you, and make millions. Kids would eat this up.