The Crab

Cancer, cancer, burning bright
In the starry heavens height
What right has your visage to fly
In the menagerie of night's sky?

None would question the Lion's place
For the solar king has heaven's grace
The Virgin's purity is her worth
The Oxen's might has moved the earth

The Ram protects two innocent babes
To sate angry gods, the Scorpion slays
For Archer's sacrifice, the fire-bringer is unbound,
For Ganymede's beauty, he's plucked from the ground.

Your Crabby tale is rather slight:
Hercules and Hydra rage in a fight
Hera calls for beasts to attack Zeus' bastard son
And from a muddy pond springs but one

A little crab snaps Hercules' big toe
And is smashed to bits with a single blow.

Is that it child of the moon?
Did this great deed grant you heaven's boon?
How the other beast must laugh
When you scuttle along their path.

"Watch your paws!" the Lion cries
"And hoofs and flippers and feet beside!"
"For the fearsome Cancer stalks the night
His tiny claws and awesome might!"

You scuttle on, content and well,
His roaring barbs cannot pierce your shell.
Who needs the praise of that proud crew?
You've earned your place among this zoo.

When Hera called, you answered true
Though answering meant an end to you
Courage is easy when you've the Lion's strength
Or the Oxen's great size and weight

It's only fit that the stars also sing
To the bravery of little things

When time wears heavy on my flesh
And I can no longer measure breath
Am I not also a little thing?
Shall He who judged your worth not judge me?

Cancer, cancer, burning bright
In the starry heavens height
What right has your visage to fly
In the menagerie of night's sky?