Eclipse

“Now study hard, ” the teacher said, “For when your study you’ve done, Somewhere in the month ahead, The time for test will come.” Then from the desks there came a shuffling And through the books disgruntled ruffling While two small boys their groans were muffling At each dreaded word. One cast a glance toward the other; A quick sly glance he gave his brother, Knowing thoughts cannot be heard. They made their plans as they rode home When that day’s class was through. Daring plans in whispered tone Of what they’d dare to do. “We’ll have to wait till after dinner Is over and then we’ll go, For sometimes adults see our inner Thoughts and we don’t know.” Though the dinner was a farm boy’s feast, Still the plans dimmed not the least, And never a smile their faces creased For young boy’s plans are stubborn. So, when the house had grown quite still, Two small boys of forthright will Sneaked out the back and went over the hill. (In a month they would return.) They spread their bedroll on a slope And crawled between the covers. And neither thought- least neither spoke Of worry they might cause others. “We’ve run away from that school desk, And we’ll never have to take that test, ” The older said. “In all tarnation! They say we’ve got to get an education. As if we’re the ones that’ll run the nation. I’m full fed up with that old saw; I’m going to grow up just like Grandpa. He never slaved in a hot schoolroom; He got his wits from that there moon, And everyone knows that pretty soon They’ll recognize their error.” Then came piping a plaintive voice, “I’m thinking we might not have a choice. We’ve come away with nothing to munch. If we run away for as much as a month What will they do with our free school lunch? ” And he hung head in sorrow. “We’ve done it now, and there’s no going back, If we did there’d only be books to crack; We’ll spoil it all if we think of that. We’ll think about it tomorrow.” And over head the great full moon Winked his eye in wonder At two small boys who whistled a tune Then snuggled down to slumber. Over the night a chill air fell But there was no one awake to tell, Until one boy woke with a yell, “Hey! What do you think’s the matter? The moon was full when we went to sleep, And I just opened my eyes to peep, And here it is Last Quarter. Now I ask- is there any way That we could have slept both night and day? I know that the moon shouldn’t look that way.” But the older boy was smarter, “Grandpa says when the nights are chill- And it sure is out on this hill- And you’re snuggled down and the days are still You could sleep right through and never know That time had flown a week or so. Anyway, it’s night-time now; We’ll have to go back to sleep somehow.” With that, his drowsy eyelids closed. ‘Till from the bedroll came a cry, “Hey! While we slept, another week went by. For look! The moon! It’s disappeared! Whatever’s happening sure is weird; It’s the strangest thing I ever heared. Wait! I know! It’s just this hill! Doesn’t the thought give you a thrill? This hill’s enchanted. We just have to sleep Again for about another week. I’ve heard of a fellow who did the same- Some old fellow with a funny name Who came home leaning on a crooked cane.” So they both went back to sleep again. When once more our friends awoke, They stared at each other and neither spoke For there in the sky where it should have been Was the full moon shining so serene, As innocent as any moon they’d seen- Proof that a month had passed them. “Boy! am I glad the month is gone. It sure is awful to starve that long. I’m so hungry my stomach’s sore. I’ll never try this again, for sure.” His older brother matched him. ‘No one would believe if we ever told; Maybe someday when we’re old We’ll find this hill and tell the town, But not right now ‘cause they’d laugh us down. It’s happened more than once. It’s time for us to retrace our tracks; How surprised they’ll be when we get back. And the kids at school will marvel so; We’ll make up the stories as we go. No one will ever have to know That we slept away the month.” Written in 1981