A shaft of light shines straight into a river
straight as an arrow's path through the air.
A fish looks up at the source of the light,
turning on its side, rolling an eye to see.
It looks at the burning orb above
glowing with the light of a thousand stars
and wonders whether it's the sun or the moon.
The fish turns back down, averts its eyes from the sight
and is unconcerned with the question.
For it is not for the fish to wonder about such things.
Fish swim and eat. The sun and moon shine.
The fish swims away, back into the darkness,
away from the shaft of light shining down.
It swims between some roots, liquid as the water itself,
sliding among the plants, in and out of openings,
the question of the light long gone from its mind.
But the light shines on. For it shines when it is in the sky,
no matter whether it is the sun or moon.

Deep in the woods, a shaft of light penetrates the trees
straight as an arrow's path through the air.
A deer looks up at the source of the light,
turning its head to see what's there.
looking at the shining globe up high in the sky,
glowing with a thousand stars around it,
it wonders whether anyone else sees it.
The deer looks down, continues on its way,
considers the question no longer.
For it is not for the deer to think of such things.
Deer run and drink. The moon and stars shine.
The deer runs away from the shaft of light,
into the dark cover of the trees.
It runs between some trees, fluid as the wind,
weaving in and out of the trees, among the plants,
the question of the moon long gone from its mind.
But the moon shines on. For it shines in the night,
no matter whether anyone is looking or not.

In a small town, moonlight shines through a window,
straight as an arrow's path through the air.
A small girl looks out her window, the light on her face,
late in the night, her face round and bright as the moon.
She looks up at the stars, burning the night away,
a thousand stars twinkling, winking through the night,
and wonders if she's the only one awake in the world.
Her small brother slips into her room, quiet as moonlight,
and throws his arms around her, hugging her.
For he knows when his sister is alone and lonely.
Sisters love their brothers. Brothers love their sisters.
The brother sits down next to his sister,
and she sits down next to her brother.
They sit together silently, knowing their love,
waiting the night out together, knowing each others' love,
the girl's question answered.
For their love goes on. For it exists in the night,
no matter whether anyone else is awake or not.