Six months of night
said Bear Man
then six months of daylight
that way we sleep
through the cold winters
take advantage of the spring
and summer months
for fattening up
begetting cubs
giving their mothers time
to teach their young

Oh no said Ant Woman
there is no time to waste
so much to do
so very much
we need the days
to follow quickly on the nights
twenty four hours
surely enough for both
darkness and daylight
and so they argued
until it was agreed
the way to settle the affair
was by a song contest

Bear Man thought "Good!
I can outsing her easily"
and sure enough
in the first round
he came on strong
but with each succeeding round
Ant Woman came on stronger
sang higher as she pulled her waist in
ever tighter while Bear Man
begain to yawn
and feel the pull of sleep
and so the judges
ruled for Ant Woman
and we have night and day
in swift succession
but bears are still content to sleep
away the winter
while the ant people
with their impossibly thin waists
keep a busy household