The Fourth of June, 1923

a short story made into a poem

The stars know all there is to know
About strange sights seen down below
Among all the sights there were to see
None stranger than that on the fourth of June, 1923

There was a timid old man
With skin white as snow
Who wore a billowing cape
Black as a crow
He pulled the cape
Over his head
To prevent him from stealing
What was in other minds said
For he had a peculiar gift
This timid old man
To do something
that no one else can
If he pulled down his cape
to expose his face
He'd risk looking into others' eyes,
Stealing what in their minds lie
Along with their thoughts came talents, oh so many
But the burden of guilt would be too heavy for him to carry
The timid old man
With skin white as snow
Didn't feel it was right,
Taking control if what others know
That was until the fourth of June, 1923
When the strange old man was tired of being unseen
The old man still was timid
So he lowered his cape
At first just a smidgen
When he worked up the nerve to fully expose his face
He ran out to encounter others
As if it was a race
One by one he looked into their eyes
And the timid old man
Stole what in their mind lies
Overcome by the power
Of all he now knew
He didn’t at first notice
His head was swelling like a balloon
For no brain was meant to carry
Thoughts and talents
Oh so many
The man with the cape began to scream
As he floated higher and higher
Above the trees
But the people from whom he took
No longer had thoughts
And couldn't detect
What it was he wants
Forget the trees as he floated high
Up into the dark night sky
It wasn't long until he raced
Right up into outer space
But it didn't stop there as he stole
What all the extraterrestrials proved to know