There is a constellation of stars called “The Seven Sisters” in Greek mythology, whose movement is said to mark the start and end of summer. Mysteriously, only six of the seven stars are visible to the naked eye. Who is this seventh star-sister and why does she hide?

In the small lake-town of Okoboji, Iowa, legend has it that seven sisters drowned off Pillsbury Point, each sister trying to save the other. I have composed a poem that combines Greek mythology with small-town legend. The sing-song poem will serve as narration over an otherwise silent, short film. The film will include elements of hand-drawn animation over live-action footage. I envision the project as an ethereal, haunting, children’s movie. The kind of movie you would never want to show your children.

THE MIDNIGHT SWIM OF THE SEVEN SISTERS

More Images	SEVEN STAR-BOUND SISTERS STEPPED OUT UPON THE ROCKS. MONDAY IN A SHIVER TWIRLED HER SPIRAL SILKY LOCKS. THURSDAY FIXED HER STOCKINGS FOR PROTECTION FROM THE NIGHT. AND SUNDAY’S BABY FINGERS HURT FROM FRIDAY’S GRIP CLOSED TIGHT. LITTLE SATURDAY HAD WET HER DRESS AT TUESDAY’S HELPLESS MOAN. AS NORA ON THE FARTHEST ROCK STOOD SILENT AND ALONE. SEVEN SISTERS TOOK SEVEN BREATHS AND TURNED TO FACE THE SKY NORA OUT-STUCK HER TWISTED TONGUE TO GENTLY WAVE GOOD-BYE IN ONE LEAP SHE LEPT, WITH NO REGRET INTO THE BLACKENED LAKE HER ANCIENT EYES THE FIRST TO HIT HER TOES THE LAST TO BREAK THE SILENCE SCREAMED IN SEVEN TONES THE GIRLS PREPARED TO SWIM THEY HELD THEIR BREATH THEY FLEXED THEIR FEET MONDAY DUTIFULLY DOVE IN SATURDAY WENT AFTER THE TWINS WHO JUMPED IN TO LEND A HAND FRIDAY SQUEEZING BABY SUNDAY WAS LEFT STANDING ON THE LAND. SHE WALKED ONTO THE FARTHEST ROCK TO SEARCH FOR SISTERS GONE SHE WATCHED THE WATER STIR AND STOP SHE WEPT UNTIL THE DAWN THEN SOLEMN FACED SHE THREW THE BABE INTO THE BLACKENED GRAVE CLOSED HER EYES, CROSSED HER HEART, PLUNGED IN BUT LEFT NO WAVE	THE WATER SIGHED IN SWEET RELIEF AS THE SEVENTH SISTER CHOKED THEY EACH TO EACH HAD PULLED THEM DOWN AS WATER FILLED THEIR THROATS A SILENT FUNERAL MARCH WAS PLAYED THAT TOLD THE SUN TO RISE AND FROM THE LAKE AND TO THE SONG DANCED SEVEN FIREFLIES THRENOS . . . THE SEVEN SISTERS SO THEY SAY WENT SPINNING TO THE NIGHT THOUGH SEVEN OF SEVEN FLIES ROSE UP BUT SIX GAVE OFF THEIR LIGHT THE BLACK ONE LEAD THE OTHERS DEEP INTO THE SPACEY SKY TO TAKE THEIR PLACE AS SEVEN STARS, THAT SOUND A MIDNIGHT CRY WHISPERING THAT, FOR ALL OUT WORTH SIX TIMES WE SING THE SONG ON THE SEVENTH, THE SONG SINGS US THE SONG SINGS US THE SONG SINGS US ON THE SEVENTH, THE SONG SINGS US: “DIVE IN . . . AND SING ALONG”