as their work came to an end
the radiant gods reached down
placed trees upon the mountainsides
with their long, lightning tweezers

smoothed the plains with their palms
drew rivers with their fingers

dangled a round flaming diamond
above it all

bestowed upon each inhabitant
the length of their lifetime
their portion of love and loneliness
hunger and plenty
freedom and servitude

then, they all exhaled
to fill the terrarium with air

they all cried together
to bring the first rain

turned on the dark

turned on the nightlight moon

closed the seamless lid
of the sparkling sky
and moved on