The Sunworshippers' Ballad

This poem (written in May of 1979) was inspired by a foggy day on San Diego Bay. I didn’t realize my skin had been cooked until I got back to shore and the sun hit me. (Ouch!) The fractal image is called Huitzilopochtili, named after the Aztec God of Fire. Read the poem and you’ll understand.

I’ll sing you a song of a handsome young couple
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
Their bodies were muscled, quite graceful and supple
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
But one day last fall
These two met their downfall
At the beach on an overcast day.
-
The maiden she swam in the cool-blue sea water
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
And a youth and I watched what we shouldn’t ought'er.
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
And the Lord then us blessed
As the maiden undressed
To catch her some sun at mid-day.
-
We watched from the shelter of high-growing plants
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
Said the youth “I must have her!” as he dropped his short pants.
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
Said I, “you won’t mind
I’ll remain in the blind.
You’ve no competition today.”
-
The naked young rowdy approached the sweet lass
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
And she slapped him quite soundly--the lady had class
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
She ran for the water
And that’s where he caught her
And dragged her protesting away!
-
But her screams of dismay very soon turned to laughter
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
As the maiden found out what her young man was after
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
And while I boldly watched
They danced and debauched
All their pleasure was there on display.
-
And after the romp the two fell off to sleep
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
Then in rolled a fog that was quite thick and deep.
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
And I saw with sad eyes
What a nasty surprise
They would get at the end of the day.
-
She sunset was nigh she awakened her swain
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
She did it by screaming and yelling in pain
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
For although it was Autumn
Her back and her bottom
Were cooked like a well-done filet.
-
He awoke to her moaning and added his cry
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
“Sweet Jesus and Mary! I’m going to die!”
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
On his back he had lied
And his “beef stick” was fried
(What did you expect me to say?)
-
I took them and bathed them and put them on ice
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
(I did it because I‘m so terribly nice)
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
For their horrible pain
Nearly drove them insane
And “I warned you” was all I would say.
-
So there is the lesson--you can take it from me
Sing nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
The advice is quite good and I offer it free
Hey nonny-nonny-ho, nonny-hey!
For a burn without sun
Isn’t very much fun
So beware of an overcast day!