Several thousand years ago a meteor streaked

through the sky high above the Andean Mountains

burning so hot that it burnt with flames of gold

making the night flash as bright as sunshine.

The meteor left behind a large circular crater

which filled with water every time it rained

and when the snow began to melt it filled again.

The Chibcha people of Guatavita used to celebrate

the spectacular arrival of the bright-burning meteorite

once a year.  The king would cover himself

with white glue, then his servants would spray

his entire body with gold dust until he was

a bejeweled ruler, a living statue

holding a golden scepter, the kind of being

you just might find living on an interstellar

meteorite traveling between the stars.

They called this king El Dorado

and he'd float on a raft to the center of the lake

accompanied by priests in black robes, bodies painted red.

Then the king dove from the raft

the frigid waters of the lake washing away the gold,

precious dust sinking softly to the bottom. Next

the people would throw beautiful emeralds

and gold statues from the shore

of the lake made by a meteor.

It was said that El Dorado used to spend his time

between ceremonies climbing to the highest peaks

in the region, trying to get as close as he could

to the stars, just in case

an interstellar spaceship meteorite

should be passing nearby

with a passenger ticket to take him home.

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