The Sun and the Moon

A story from the Krachi people of western Africa, as presented in Myths and Legends: Classical Greek, Celtic, Norse, Chinese, African, Native American & more (edited by Jake Jackson). Offered without much comment, but it came across very much to me (while reading as a bed-time story to my son, of all things...) as a relationship that would have worked out far better for everyone involved if it were Poly... Assuming everyone could work with that, of course. Then again, both of the people in this are significantly lacking in redeeming qualities, so maybe it wouldn't have worked out then either?

Any kind of poly relationship needs some basic trust, some basic communication, that the sun and the moon here are clearly lacking. This relationship was doomed by the fact that they didn't communicate or respect each other they way they needed to. So consider this your lesson for today.

Either way, have a nice bed-time story from me.

The sun andy he moon fell in love and decided to marry. For a time they were very happy together and produced any children whom they christened "stars". But it was not long before the moon grew weary of her husband and decided to take a lover, refusing to conceal the fact that she greatly enjoyed the variety.
Of course, the sun soon came to hear of his wife's brazen infidelity and the news made him extremely unhappy. He attempted to reason with the moon, but when he saw that his efforts were entirely fruitless, he decided to drive his wife out of his house. Some of the children sided with their mother, while others supported their father. But the sun was never too hard on his wife, in spite of their differences, and saw to it that their possessions were equally divided up.
The moon was always too proud to accept her husband's kindness, however, and even to this day, she continues to make a habit of trespassing on his lands, often taking her children with her and encouraging them to fight the siblings who remain behind with their father.
The constant battles between the star-children of the sun and the star-children of the moon produce great storms of thunder and lightning and it is only when she becomes bored of these confrontations that the moon sends her messenger, the rainbow, into the field, instructing him to wave a cloth of many colors as a signal for her children to retreat.
Sometimes the moon herself is caught by the sun attempting to steal crops from his fields. Whenever this happens, he chases after his estranged wife and if he catches her he begins to flog her or even tries to eat her.
So whenever a man sees an eclipse, he knows that things have come to blows once again between husband and wife up above. At this time, he must be certain to beat his drum and threaten the sun very loudly, for if he does not, the sun might finish the job, and we should certainly lose the moon forever.