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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A Gibbous Moon

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If I were to open
a blue door
into the murmurous silence,
would you rend your garments
and hang upside down
from the yew tree
under a spiritous moon?

Tongues grow wild
and shadows dance upon the walls
in the glow of the candles,
and only blackness
answers
when one contemplates
a gibbous moon.

 Brendan, over at Real Toads, set us the task of using the words outlined in bold to write a poem of Moon Madness, as Plath-like as possible. These lines just tumbled out all on their own so I set them here undisturbed, as I have no idea what they mean or where they came from. Just grateful that they came.

 Re-posted for Poets United's Poetry Pantry
at

52 comments:

  1. MargaretJanuary 15, 2014 at 1:25 PM

    For whatever reason, this reminds me of a more sophisticated "Where the Wild Things Are" !!

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 1:25 PM

    The second verse is plain beautiful. The blackness answering to the contemplation over a gibbous moon. The relation here of the moon's illumination and the darkness comes out clearly.
    -HA

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 1:25 PM

    Odd, isn't it, that a gibbous moon invokes the wildest darkness? The more we stare into the face of that moon, the spookier it gets. That must be an old, odd sensation for the human species. Loved it!

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  4. SusanJanuary 15, 2014 at 1:39 PM

    The voice in the first verse knows that her if/then is impossible and plunges on into the illuminated darkness to wild voices answering. Sense of great speed here. Surreal.

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  5. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 1:56 PM

    Surreal yes, but somehow wedded beautifully with the image, making a whole package.

    Elizabeth

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  6. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 2:11 PM

    i wish i had words like these "just tumble out" ~ fantastic & fantastical, Sherry!
    ♥

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  7. UnknownJanuary 15, 2014 at 2:20 PM

    I wish words like these would just come to me!

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  8. Laurie KolpJanuary 15, 2014 at 3:03 PM

    Sherry~ Your words do dance... love it!

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  9. revelationsJanuary 15, 2014 at 3:09 PM

    nicely done Sherry.. a great poem with good use of the prompt words...

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  10. MaryJanuary 15, 2014 at 4:07 PM

    This is lovely, Sherry.

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  11. TruedessaJanuary 15, 2014 at 4:50 PM

    I really like moon poems and found this one a treat and yes, I would hang upside down.

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 6:02 PM

    Love that first stanza.. rending garments and hanging upside down on the yew tree.. yes!

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  13. Myrna R.January 15, 2014 at 6:40 PM

    These are beautiful words from your beautiful subconscious. Thus the actual meaning is irrelevant, we must just read in a different dimension, outside our rational brain. I envy you when your mind just gifts you with words like these. Pure poetry.

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  14. Vandana SharmaJanuary 15, 2014 at 7:00 PM

    It is amazing. The lovely words flow naturally from you.

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  15. Susie ClevengerJanuary 15, 2014 at 8:53 PM

    There is a sense of the surreal...questions often go unanswered when we interrogate the moon

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  16. Sumana RoyJanuary 15, 2014 at 10:27 PM

    I can visualize a huge canvas with the vivid images you've painted...a wonderful moon poem......'

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  17. The UnknowngnomeJanuary 16, 2014 at 2:37 AM

    Add my praise to the chorus Sherry!

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  18. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2014 at 6:28 AM

    I love the moon, and I love this. It feels so wild and right.

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  19. Kerry O'ConnorJanuary 16, 2014 at 7:00 AM

    There is something remarkable in a gibbous moon - we know the whole is there but we cannot see it. You have brought out the sense of unease in your lines, but also some of the magic too.

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  20. Debi SwimJanuary 16, 2014 at 8:38 AM

    I always feel a mystery in the shadows from the candle -an eerie look over my shoulder feel into the darkness beyond. Very nice work!

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  21. Anne VJanuary 16, 2014 at 9:29 AM

    Feels very Maurice Sendak-like. A beautiful write, Sherry. I enjoyed the surreal mystical nature of it.

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  22. LauraJanuary 16, 2014 at 2:52 PM

    beautiful writing Sherry!

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  23. Liz Rice-SosneJanuary 16, 2014 at 2:58 PM

    I love this for I have a passion for the Gibbous Moon! I love that word. ;)

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  24. HelenJanuary 16, 2014 at 7:42 PM

    Only you could 'untumble' words and end up with a lovely poem!

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  25. ed pilollaJanuary 16, 2014 at 9:31 PM

    i really liked the spiritous moon. that's the moon i know. i dig your weave on moon madness. and as usual, thanks for the love at my place. you are such a good woman. peace and love:)

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  26. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2014 at 1:20 AM

    I like the feel of this - velvety, inquisitive. Happy weekend, Sherry ~

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  27. EllaJanuary 17, 2014 at 3:13 AM

    Wow Sherry-I love yours, so many wonderful lines-I can't pick~ You paint the moon with awe!

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  28. annell4January 17, 2014 at 9:54 AM

    Simply wonderful Sherry!

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  29. SreejaJanuary 17, 2014 at 9:17 PM

    beautiful....every time...I got a more better meaning after reading..thats the spirit of the poem I think...enjoyed...and loved the second stanza....

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  30. aspiritofsimplicityJanuary 17, 2014 at 11:49 PM

    I reread and reread. I liked tongues grow wild and I liked the first stanza too...I liked it all very much.

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  31. GabriellaJanuary 19, 2014 at 12:47 AM

    Beautiful imagery in your poem, Sherry! I like the idea of a 'murmurous silence'.

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  32. anthonynorthJanuary 19, 2014 at 1:32 AM

    Beautifully done, with words that present quite a challenge.

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  33. kelvin s.m.January 19, 2014 at 1:37 AM

    ...this is intriguingly surreal & sensual, sherry... too many things it brings to mind... smiles...

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  34. Brian MillerJanuary 19, 2014 at 1:50 AM

    how did i miss this earlier in the week...i am sorry...smiles...hey if i need to hang upside down i will...smiles. that second stanza is really cool though sherry...lots of nice elements...and imagery...

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  35. alan1704January 19, 2014 at 1:54 AM

    The glow of candles - One tiny light that infuses a whole world, this is very nicely done

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  36. dsnake1January 19, 2014 at 7:10 AM

    Cool!
    that's some surreal and dark images that came from those 'tumbled out' words. :)

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  37. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2014 at 7:27 AM

    Hanging upside down beneath a moon seems near-crazy, especially with rent garments. The next level of a full moon would bring something quite interesting, I'm sure.

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  38. NataĊĦekJanuary 19, 2014 at 9:01 AM

    a great one... those poems that just pour out are the best. they demand to be written.

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  39. kaykualaJanuary 19, 2014 at 10:10 AM

    That's a good way of creating wonderful poetry. Somehow one feels the choice of words is in tandem with the way it is used. That is ok! Nicely Sherry!

    Hank

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  40. UnknownJanuary 19, 2014 at 10:33 AM

    Moon inspires so much in each of us..beautiful write Sherry. :)

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  41. Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene)January 19, 2014 at 10:38 AM

    love this my wise, amiga

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  42. Audrey Howitt aka DivaloungerJanuary 19, 2014 at 10:53 AM

    Ah Sherry--and I am glad to read them this morning--just gorgeous!

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  43. Stormcat PoetryJanuary 19, 2014 at 11:25 AM

    I like to think the universe is speaking through me when words come out that way. Also, it always seems to turn out better than when I write it on my own. I'm glad you were receptive enough to the spirit to listen and write it down for us.

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  44. brudbergJanuary 19, 2014 at 12:10 PM

    This is a wonderful composition... great end . you really expressed the moon - madness (or is it lunacy)...

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  45. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2014 at 1:01 PM

    "...answers
    when one contemplates
    a gibbous moon."
    ...being more than half full...is quite a question to be presented to, for an answer. :-)
    Nicely written.
    ZQ


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  46. Gillena CoxJanuary 19, 2014 at 1:46 PM

    luv the theme of moon; and your poem is awesome; have a nice Sunday; thanks for stooping over at my blog


    much love...

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  47. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2014 at 2:21 PM

    Don't you just love those poems that seem to write themselves? !!! But you are the scribe... and you got it down right!! Beautiful!!

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  48. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2014 at 3:38 PM

    Love that opening stanza, Sherry...beautifully executed,

    Elizabeth

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  49. UnknownJanuary 19, 2014 at 6:05 PM

    I missed this also earlier. Glad i got a second shot well done sherry :) Strong open!

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  50. PealogicJanuary 20, 2014 at 5:12 AM

    Rendered speechless by the opening 4 lines. Fab!

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  51. UnknownJanuary 20, 2014 at 8:28 AM

    You did this prompt justice, Sherry, as you turn your keen eye on nature, the moon, the night.

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  52. ManiparnaJanuary 20, 2014 at 9:50 AM

    "and shadows dance upon the walls
    in the glow of the candles,
    and only blackness
    answers"

    What lines ! simply love them..

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