Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Distraught Sister Moon




Distraught Sister Moon,
I see you up there, pacing around,
wringing your hands,
"what to do, what to do, what to do?"

Down below, all hell is breaking loose:
bombings, shootings, drought,
famines, floods, melting icebergs,
forest fires,
wildlife fleeing in terror,
no where to hide,
dangerous people with bad hair
behaving badly.

I see you trying to efface your fullness
quickly, perhaps thinking
if you lessen your roundness
the populace can return to calm
under a slice of moon.
But when were we last calm?
Between the dinosaur era 
and Cro-Magnon,
was there once an age 
of hunting and gathering,
feasting and rejoicing,
before My Cave and Your Cave 
became issues and clubs
started swinging?

By your light, madmen and prophets collide.
By your light, poets seek truth and beauty.
By your light, we dream of a better world.

You have stopped pacing.
You like where this is going.
Okay, hear this:
By the Light of Your Silvery Moon,
on earth we dream, we dream,
we dream of peace.


I will share this poem, written in March of 2017, with the Tuesday Platform at Real Toads. Sadly, things are even worse now, over a year later. I references the well known old tune in the last stanza. I remember how innocent life seemed back then. My Grandma would be horrified at what is happening now.


17 comments:

  1. This is so poignant and true. Where are we headed? You’re so right.... the past generations will hold us to account regarding the mess we’ve allowed accumulate. Excellent.

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  2. And the full blood moon lunar eclipse is coming up this Friday. What an event that will be. Hopefully this moon will bring us peace or at least, a brief cessation from the madness. By the light of the silvery moon makes me think of that old song, I want to spoon, with my baby I'll croon a tune...peace, love. That is what I am dreaming for as well.

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  3. Ah, we can dream after all of peace. I like how you exhort the moon and through her image, trace the tragedy of human history.
    -HA

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  4. The horrors have continued to march on since last year. There are still those who dream under moonlight of a better world though. Thank goodness for all who continue to fight the good fight.

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  5. This is such a touching poem, Sherry! We can only hope for a better world.. sigh..

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  6. I remember this song:
    By the Light of Your Silvery Moon,
    and your dream of peace...
    on earth we dream, we dream,
    we dream of peace.
    from singing while riding in the car waaay back in the fifties.
    .
    Thank you for a thought provoking poem.

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  7. I'm so *bleeping sorry* but I CAN'T stop laughing at the sudden insert - the total foot-stomping "connect/disconnect" with these wholly unexpected lines: phrased so perfectly, I might add - it's almost too surreal Sherry - OMG -
    dangerous people with bad hair
    behaving badly.

    before My Cave and Your Cave
    became issues and clubs
    started swinging?

    oh how you were penning on fire - the subtly played words and layered meanings ...
    and well, hell - it's breaking loose, still - this is the "beyond awkward growing pains" of a world "awakening" ....
    and well, total lunar eclipse and a long lasting time frame for it and Mars just out of bounds .... which means the heightened possibilities of recklessness, violence etc.
    But at some point - it has to end - somehow, someway, .... no storm lasts forever ... haven't we passed the 40 days and night mark yet??

    This is a really wonderful poem Sherry - and it still holds as much strength and beauty today, as when you wrote it then ... and so let us pray, to the stars ... and okay, dream or wish for peace - fine - but let's choose to BE it first ...

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  8. By your light, poets seek truth and beauty.
    By your light, we dream of a better world.

    How we would have wanted it for the better. A pity is got a lot worst

    Hank

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  9. LOL, Pat, am enjoying your comment.......glad you caught the bad hair. By the Light was a tune about love, crooning a tune, as I recall. But back then there were a lot of peace songs too - and in the 60's, we really thought peace was possible.

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  10. I know there is nothing funny about this. But I hope you know I lost it at "dangerous people with bad hair". I will try not to feel to bad about the chuckles. It seems that these days, we need to hold on to as much laughter as we can... or else.

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  11. You had me hook, line, and sinker from the title. Gripping, masterful, timely piece.

    I love your thought that if the moon gets skinny enough, the world might be saved.

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  12. I wonder if the moon ever cared... maybe it just reflects what's happening.

    Maybe there's storm on the moon too.

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  13. By your light, madmen and prophets collide.
    By your light, poets seek truth and beauty.
    By your light, we dream of a better world.

    Love this verse especially!

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  14. Oh, I love this moon poem. When I was a child, I thought of the moon as a friend, one I could pour my heart out to.

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  15. But when were we last calm? I think it has been going on for a long time... I really like the "By your light" lines.

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  16. It is sad to think that the space of a year has brought about no change for the better.

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