[Written in Standard IX, in the wake of learning about stellar deaths.]
My heart aches, as all my hydrogens,
Tucked deep under my skin, are
Now exhausted, and I have nothing
To do but swell with whatever
Superficial hydrolium is left in me.
I have no sympathy for Mercury,
For he is a jerk, trying to win
The Orbital Race and unfortunately
Does win each time with a foolish
Mind of triumph, the puny fellow.
Chewing hin away, I turn my eye
On Venus, the hot-tempered girl. She,
The silver medalist forever and so the
Most furious and hottest, challenges me,
Says
she would eat
me instead!
That, I permit not, and suck her
Into one of my infinite nostrils.
The tertiary victor was patient till
Now, and at my first signs of
Approach, shrieks, 'Wait a minute!'
She might as well say, 'Wait a
Millenium!' Proceeds she, 'Have my
Offspring not worshipped you? Have
They ever inflicted a crumb of damage
Upon you? Have you not a heart?'
'My dear blue baby, it is that my
Heart shrinks and there is but
Nothing to curb myself from gobbling
The first three of my kids, sadly,
Including you, my priceless jewel.'
She is not deterred. 'I considered you
Almighty. It was you who embedded
Life in me, you who nurtured it and
Brought it up. Sans you, I would've
Been just as lifeless as my siblings.
But it is now your wish to swallow
Me, to vapourize me.' 'It is not my
Wish.' 'You lie! O you are not
Grateful. My best child, Man, has
Paid you innumerable respects.
He, your grandson, my grandest son,
Has attempted to understand you, for
Which he poked out telescopes in all
Directions like cannons. He had, you
Should remember, extended your lifespan.
He has dumped hydrogen in you from
Your neighbour Alpha, as though he
Were Robin Hood. He has loved you,
Cared for you, and how do you return it?
You give his womb an undeserving death.'
'My dear child, he made me live
Longer for his own selfish need.
He wanted more time afore he could
Evacuate all my nine children,
Before I turn red and gianty.
Ah, my great daughter, you are a
True mother. You choke of radiation,
Your lands've dipped thro' fusion blasts,
Yet you defend the rogue who has
Deserted you and killed his brothers.
Why die of radioactive suffering,
Self-combusting, and synthetic volcanoes,
Armageddons and comets and endure
Agony till your deathbed? Why not
Get mercy-killed in an instant?'
And thus I cast forth my tongue,
Swish about her and recoil it
Deep back into me. The other six
Weep fraternally; my fourth child
Glares, angry and as red as I.
