THE MOON POEMS

Mandarin Moon

March 2, 2002

I awake in the deep dark

of the night

to see

a huge round full-faced moon

staring in

at me

as if it had zoomed close

with my eyes closed,

I catching it

unawares

before it rose.

There she sat,

perched in the bowl

of my old tree,

like an over-sized Christmas ornament

thus adorning

just for me

the starkly bare

and brittle branches and,

much more,

allowing me to see

its beauty

closer

than I ever have

before.

I stare back:

eternal purveyor

of myth and mystery,

as if it holds the secret

of whatever is to be

and has ventured thus

to urge me forth

from out

my purple bed,

to find a path

where all my dreams

can be

much better fed.

This radiant

so-close moon

and I agree:

surrender to no man,

and yet

in giving

I'm most free.

This silvery ambassador

is urging me

to find a way

to give

all that I can -

Mandarin Midnight Moon

that sailed here

last night

from Japan.

*** ~~ *** ~~ *** ~~ ***

OBELISK MOON

May 13, 2000

Obelisk Moon

suspended in the sky

like a seven-months

pregnant woman

gliding by,

four times I sailed

proud and serene

like you,

small voyagers

aswim in a sea of dreams

all safe within.

I tacked and drifted

set the mainsail fast

those sunny days

we thought would

for forever last

How I dreamed

such simple dreams of happiness:

the future such a whole and shining thing

life's songs

all waiting there

for them to sing

joyously

like laughing lovers

in the sun

and be happier than I

when I was young

Now one son laughs and lives his life

and one son weeps

in a maze

from which he canot find his way.

One daughter struggles

but goes on,

one daughter sweeps

from depth to wave-peak

in a single day

four small precarious passengers

hanging on

without a chance to choose

to a mother

not completely here

they are afraid

to lose

And I?

My heart still sails

through seas sublime

my compass pointed firmly

towards a hope

that I would keep

but all the time

a nightwatchman lives on board

who never sleeps

and I wait

for that call

that knock in the night

to sound again

that is my world come crashing down

in pain

My heart lives now

four others hearts inside,

their journeys become my journey

and it is a bumpy ride

32 mother's days

sailing by so fast

on this sea of hope

where nothing ever lasts

days of unbearable beauty

unbearable sorrow

the best gift:

my children,

all alive

tomorrow.

***~~***~~***~~***~~***

WATERMELON MOON

May 10, 2000

The soundless night

huddles under

its blanket of darkening clouds

faintly rose-etched

by fingers of fading sunset.

Settling,

it pulls its mantle of repose

tenderly

across the sleeping city

and a slice of moon

portal of mystery

recipient of dreams

sweet prompter of desire

inspirer of songs,

hangs over hills

bunched like a lumpy giant,

a slice of watermelon

swinging soft

in a pomegranate

sky

***~~***~~***~~***

OBELISK MOON II

March 5, 2001

Awake at four in the morning,

looking out,

looking up,

at a dark blue sky

luminous with

a hazy radiance,

streaked with layers

of pale blue gauzy clouds,

through which

a sedate silver moon

sails so serene.

Stars solicit

secret wishes

my heart

no longer has the hope

to make,

and I feel sad.

I can no longer look up

at the night sky

without thinking of you,

my fellow dreamer,

fellow sky-watcher,

without remembering

all those night skies

we watched together

before I lost you

and I lost

the night sky

too.

***~~***~~***~~***