Rock Island, Illinois Myth

This was a World Studies assignment on mythology I had to write a myth that might explain some of the things found in general life as well as in Rock Island, Illinois. I hope you all like it and Let me know what country or city I should create a myth for next:) please:)

In the beginning, there was no life and the earth was dark and without vegetation. The only animal on the planet was Canis the Coyote. Canis was gifted with knowledge of creation and with that gift he made earth one little piece at a time with the help of a gray fox by the name of Urocyon.Years passed and Canis and Urocyon grew to old age and passed away. After that , all was silent. Then suddenly, one day, the sky opened up with a bang and down flew Danaus the Monarch. As she flew, little seeds fell from her wings ,supplying the earth with trees and grass and the like. Two of the seeds, abnormally, were actually eggs. Out of those eggs hatched two fireflies by the names of Photinus and Pyralis. After some time Photinus and Pyralis had a family of 500. Their families shed light upon the earth. After their job was done they all joined together forming a ball of light, thus becoming the sun a few outliers became the first stars. Another ten days went by and then the sky suddenly opened again and this time Zenaida the Mourning Dove dropped from above. Her songs brought wind and her tears brought rain. As the years passed rivers began to form and streams began to flow. The rains watered the plants and trees and they began to grow. Providing food for the earth. In the tenth year the ground opened and out crawled a Painted turtle by the name of Chrysemus, a Toad named Anaxyrus, and a human by the name of Mariska. Chrysemus being a turtle deprived of water couldn't climb so Mariska, with what little strength she had, held Chrysemus up to the edge of the earth and he climbed out. Anaxyrus, being a toad, could jump high enough to get out so, that he did. Mariska was very weak and had been starved for weeks in that hole of theirs and she didn't have enough strength to climb. Zenaida saw this and came to help. She held onto Mariska's arms and lifted her up to earth. Zenaida watered the apple tree that had grown over the years and told her to eat so her health could be restored. Meanwhile Zenaida also saw that chrysemus was suffering as well. Out of kindness and sympathy, Zenaida cried him a pond. Chrysemus was very thirsty as he was also severely dehydrated. He swam in and drank from the newly formed pond with glee and appreciation. Anaxyrus and Chrysemus had grown to be enemies in the time they were trapped in darkness beneath earth. Anaxyrus was jealous of Chrysemus, having an entire pond to swim in and drink out of and Anaxyrus had nothing of his own. So later that night Anaxyrus jumped in the pond and drank it dry. Zenaida saw this happen and was infuriated by the sight of such a jealous and vengeful creature. She kicked him off of the surface of the earth and put him back in the dark hole where he spent so many years.

As anaxyrus grew, so did the earth, and everything on it. He grew to gigantuous proportions and his body, from beneath the earth formed hills and valleys. Chrysemus, also grew too and when he died old parts of his shell became beautiful rocks. Over the years , Mariska eventually had a son named Denithis. Denithis was very smart. He made clothing for Mariska and he figured out how to make a shelter out of fallen trees. By one tree he tried using, there was a baby white tailed deer named Odocoileus. Odocoileus had been separated from their parents by Zenaida, because of their evil deeds. Odocoileus couldn't bring warm, inviting and happy weather like his parents. Because of his sadness He could only bring cold, bitter and sad weather. He cried snowflakes once a year on the day his parents were separated from him until his tears stopped and he couldn't cry anymore and he became happy once again. The days passed and Odocoileus grew old and he died but his spirit still continued to bring cold weather and suffering on the same day every year. December 22nd…Another year went by and Mariska had a daughter, Alanisa who had a boy and a girl of her own. Alanisa's daughter, was evil and wanted power. She wanted the power to create more creatures of her own kind. Mariska was very upset and wouldn't let her daughter do something so outrageous before the land was completely restored. She asked Photinus to grant her the power to completely restore the land and then after she made her request to restrain her daughter from asking for anything of the sort. Alanisa was smart though. She assumed her mother would do something like that and made her wish as she made hers. When Photinus was through with Mariska and Alanisa he went back to his place in the sky. Later that day Alanisa had made 16 more humans and told them to multiply and build a home for themselves. And so they did. Mariska got her wish of restoration and the earth was beautiful once more.

Teacher Commentary

Great job with this. This is a very well developed story...I like how you used scientific names for a lot of the animals that you introduced...that would really help to explain why they still have the names they do today. You did a really good job of giving your characters/creatures that one might logically assume they would have based on how they act. You do an excellent job of explaining why seasonal patterns exist as well...actually you cover most elements of life in this story...so it is very detailed and thorough. The only thing I don't necessarily see is a lesson…but if you can point that out, I can give you those points back. Again...very nicely done! …

The lesson is don't be greedy - Me