The Man on the Moon
There once was an airman without a home,
who decided to forever roam.
His days made him aware,
And his nights showed him that which was most fare. Ten days and ten nights,
he climbed to the tallest peak.
There he hoped to have the greatest of sights.
But the view was still but a peek. For the sun,
with the bright light it shun.
and the shade form the clouds
hid it like in shrouds. He meditated and meditated,
yet never grew frustrated.
In his mind he only saw the moon,
which made sure he never went gloom. On the night the moon was closest,
he hear her whisper to him.
She told him she was not the prettiest
yet she too never felt dim. The man curious asked:
"What better did you see past?"
She told him the universe is vast,
"but the best view is where you stood last." With this the man opened his eyes
and saw himself rise.
The moon told him he was very wise
"and for that I'll grant you my view from the skies." This is the story of the man on the moon
who floated up to view,
a sight he could attune,
the planet below that green and blue.
who decided to forever roam.
His days made him aware,
And his nights showed him that which was most fare. Ten days and ten nights,
he climbed to the tallest peak.
There he hoped to have the greatest of sights.
But the view was still but a peek. For the sun,
with the bright light it shun.
and the shade form the clouds
hid it like in shrouds. He meditated and meditated,
yet never grew frustrated.
In his mind he only saw the moon,
which made sure he never went gloom. On the night the moon was closest,
he hear her whisper to him.
She told him she was not the prettiest
yet she too never felt dim. The man curious asked:
"What better did you see past?"
She told him the universe is vast,
"but the best view is where you stood last." With this the man opened his eyes
and saw himself rise.
The moon told him he was very wise
"and for that I'll grant you my view from the skies." This is the story of the man on the moon
who floated up to view,
a sight he could attune,
the planet below that green and blue.
Summary
The story of an airbender who had wondered all his life, growing forever more wise and that fell in love with the beauty and peace of the moon. In hopes to be with his love he climbed up the tallest mountain. Yet not happy with the view of the moon from there he meditated until a solution would arise to him. The solution came has a whisper in the night the moon was closest to earth. It was the moon talking to him telling him that she was not worthy of that love but she knew that which was. The man curious asked her what was and she told him that it was the earth, the land he had wondered and trecked. When the man heard this he opened his eyes and saw he was floating up in the skies. It was a gift from the moon for she believed that such a wise man as him was worthy to share her view. And to this day the man remains on the moon smiling down at the view of the earth.
Historical Basis
This story is believed to have a basis in the legend of Master Sokka, a master airbender who it was told could walk the skies and was in love with the protector of the moon. Currently there is no known airbender able to "walk the skies" and the possibility of such is even questioned.
Spread
This story is a very common children's' tale of the airbenders all over the world. It is usually a bed time story told by mothers or monks to children.
Cultural Reception
Most airbenders believe this story to be true, at least to some degree. And it is so embedded in airbending culture that temples to the man and the moon exist in high mountain peaks, such as actual books telling the story and sacred emblems.
In Literature
This poem has been transferred from popular tale told to actual book which can, which varying degrees of ease, be found in every nation. There is even an opera of it.
In Art
Plenty of paintings and murals in airbending temples tell this tale. It is common on airbender nurseries too.
Date of First Recording
The first recorded version is from 3262 A.A.B.
Date of Setting
Unknown, believed to be in the XXII A.A.B. century.
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