The King Beetle on a Coconut Estate

As the moon rose and the hour grew late,

The day-help on the coconut estate

Raked up the dried leaves that fell dead from the trees

Which they burned in a pile by the lake.

The beetle king summoned his men

And from the top of the rhododendron stem

"Calling all volunteers who can carry back here,

The great mystery's been lit once again."

One beetle emerged from the crowd

In a fashionable abdomen shroud.

Said, "I'm a professor, see, that's no mystery to me,

I'll be back soon successful and proud."

But when the beetle professor returned,

He crawled on all six as his wings had been burned

And described to the finest detail all he'd learned

There was neither a light, nor a heat in his words

The deeply dissatisfied king

Climbed the same stem to announce the same thing

But in his second appeal sought to sweeten the deal

With a silver padparadscha ring.

The lieutenant stepped out from the line

As he lassoed his thorax with twine

Thinking, "i'm stronger and braver and I'll earn the

king's favor.

One day all he has will be mine."

But for all the lieutenant's conceit,

He too returned singed and admitting defeat.

"I had no choice, please believe, but retreat

It was bright as the sun, but with ten times the heat

And it cracked like the thunder and bloodshot my eyes

Though smothered with sticks, it advanced undeterred

Carelessly cast an ash cloud to the sky, my lord,

Like a flock of dark vanishing birds."

The beetle king slammed down his fist

"your flowery descriptions no better than his!

We sent for the great light and you bring us this!

We didn't ask what it seems like, we asked what it is!"

His majesty's hour at last is drawn nigh

The elegant queen took her leave from his side

Without understanding, but without asking why

Gathered their kids to come bid their goodbyes

And the father explained, "you've been somewhat

deceived,

We've all called me your dad, but your true dad's not

me

I laid next to your mom and your forms were conceived

Your Father's the light within all that you see.

He fills up the ponds as he empties the clouds

Holds without hands, and he speaks without sounds.

He provides us with the cow's waste and coconuts to eat

Giving one that nice salt taste, and the other is

sweet.

Sends the black carriage the day death shows its face

Thinning our numbers with kindness and grace

And just as a flower and its fragrance are one,

So must each of you and your Father become.

Now distribute my scepter, my crown, and my throne

And all we've known as wealth to the poor and alone

Without further hesitation, without looking back home,

The king flew headlong into the blazing unknown.

And as the smoke king curled higher and higher

The troops flying loops round the telephone wires

They said, "our beloved's not dead, but his highness

instead,

Has been utterly changed into fire."

Why not be utterly changed into fire?