Photon's Dance

Photon’s Dance

Li’l Roma sat in the shade of a tree
Gazing at the leaves above thoughtfully
“I wonder,” she murmured, “how a tree so tall
Could have grown out of a seed so very small!”

And suddenly, to her great surprise
Roma steadily began to shrink in size
Till a gentle breeze carried her aloft
To a leaf high above, green and soft

“Oh wow! she said. “I’m now as small as a mite!
A funny feeling it is…but quite all right!
It’s warm and nice, this leaf’s like a cushion
And up here I won’t have homework or tuition!”

As Roma sat there, quite at her ease
A sunbeam found its way through the leaves…
It bathed Roma in its lovely warm glow
And the leaf’s light-green turned a bright yellow

On the sunbeam Roma saw a very strange sight
A tiny girl! Blazing like a spark of light!
“Hello, I’m Photon!” sang the girl. “I’ve come down here
To bring all Earth’s creatures warmth and cheer!”

Photon took Roma’s hand and with a smile
Said: “Come, let’s wander inside this leaf awhile!
You wished to know how this big tree could grow?
Well…at the end of our trip I’m sure you’ll know!”

They entered the leaf through a tiny tunnel
(Photon led the way - she knew it well)
Till they found themselves in a deep-green hall
Filled with little shining creatures, fat and small

“Meet my pals!” Photon said. “Soon you’ll see us sway
In a dance that gives Life to plants each day!
The dance begins when I arrive on a Sun’s ray…
It’s fun to watch…so stay, don’t go away!”

Photon’s pals (Roma saw) were just lazing about
‘Cause the hall was rather warm, and they were rather stout!
Six of a kind, they made twelve in all
And now they sat up at Photon’s cheery call

Said Photon: “These six  are all called See-O-Too
You’ll find them in Air (and in sodas too!)
As for these other six, they’re called Water - which, you know
Falls from Air to Earth as rain and snow!”

Photon laughed, and pulled her friends to their feet
“Listen,” she cried, “to the Sun’s heartbeat!
Let’s sway to it, dance the magical dance
That brings Life to Earth’s lovely green plants!”

Hand in hand, they whirled so quick
That suddenly, by an amazing chemical trick
Photon and her pals vanished! In their places
Danced seven new creatures - with different faces!

“We’re good to breathe!” six cried. “We’re called Oxygen!
You’ll find us everywhere - in the Earth, the Ocean!
But we’re happiest when wandering outside as Air…”
With which words, the six turned and rushed out of there.

The seventh newcomer was a crystal, pure white…
In that green hall, she sparkled bright
She had many faces, her smile was wide
She was so big, she filled the hall’s inside!

“Call me Sugar!” cooed the crystal. “I’m really sweet…
I’ve locked away the Sun’s heat - for plants to eat!
I’ve got the Sun’s energy, I’ve stored Photon’s glow
Which, you know, helps plants to grow!”

“When night comes, and the Air gets chill
The plants will eat me as they will
That way they keep warm, and carry on
Till the Sun rises again at the crack of dawn!”

“I’ll take Photon’s glow wherever I go
Leaves, stems, flowers and fruits - I’ll help them all grow
And so the Sun’s energy brings Life to birth
And so the Sun’s energy brings Life to Earth!”

“Oh wow!” Roma cried. “I see Photon everywhere now!
She’s in leaf and fruit, trunk and bough!
Animals eat plants and fruit - as we humans do
Which means…Photon gives Life to all of us too!”

“That’s right!” laughed Sugar. “And what is more
When I’m eaten, I change back to what I was before!
I  become See-O-Too and Water again ready to begin
The dance again, as soon as Photon drops in!”

“In this way, we - Photon’s eternal friends
Dance the dance of Life, that never ends!
We help Photon race from place to place
So that living things can grow at their very own pace!”

And with these words Sugar started to quiver
And wriggle and shake and twist and shiver…
“I’m changing now…but don’t worry!” she said with a sweet smile
“I’ll be back here just as I was…in a while!”

As Roma watched, Sugar vanished without trace…
And lo! See-O-Too  and Water again appeared in her place…
And now, through the tunnel, came Photon’s bright form…
“I’m here again!” she cried. “To help keep things warm!”

Photon and her pals took Roma by the wrist
“Come dance with us!” they sang. “Let’s whirl and twist!
Now you know how Photon, the Sun’s merry daughter
Brings Life to all Earth, with See-O-Too  and Water!”

Ever faster they danced; Roma felt herself rise
And float away… she shut her eyes…
When she opened them again, she found herself beneath the tree
Gazing up at the leaves, which rustled lazily…

“Ah Roma,” they whispered, “Now you know, little one
How Photon brings Life to Earth from the Sun!
How she helps creatures live and grow, day and night
By giving to them the Sun’s heat and glowing light!”

And now, through the leaves, a golden sunbeam came
And touched Roma’s cheek like a gentle flame
“I’m Photon!” a voice whispered. “I come from the Sun…
I bring Life to Earth, I’m in you, in everyone…