On a reading room table, late in the night,  
A pair of ants witnessed a phenomenal sight!  
A bright golden sunrise, when there must be no light,  
When children were sleeping to parents’ delight.

A huge fiery globe, golden rays in their sight,  
A vast world before them, raining golden dust bright;  
They’re greeting the sunrise, perplexed as can be:  
“The time is past midnight – is it true what we see?”

Is it a true miracle? What can it be?  
Has the time-space continuum warped in a “C”?  
It’s crazy! It’s just unbelievable! See?  
A sunrise past midnight can bring ecstasy!

And their antennae went twirly and twisty,  
Bending and stretching and sensing the air,  
In a hectic attempt to grasp new reality:  
“Nights are so short, and long days are here!”

But all of a sudden, a great hand from the sky,  
Descends on the book that our ants sat on high;  
The hand lifts the book, and as ants fall below,  
They could not believe the sight that they saw:

The great fiery sun that was blinding their sight,  
Was an old tennis ball, reflecting the light!

                               Paul Pinkhasik, July 25, 2024

                               illustration courtesy of 

                               Marina Krasnogolov