Today I'm sharing a recent post from author/poet Alison McGhee's glorious blog...a poem that will change everything for you.
I promise.
I subscribe to Alison's blog; each poem she chooses floats into my inbox as Poem of the Week. The gift is not only Alison's choice of poems, but her short intros to each poem, which are as gorgeous as the poems she chooses:
Here's the link to the poem she sent May 29, 2021--do click on it...her brief intros are definitely worth reading. But here's the poem if you can't click:
IF THE MOON CAME OUT ONLY ONCE A MONTH
by Cathy Ross
If the moon came out only once a month
people would appreciate it more. They’d mark it
in their datebooks, take a walk by moonlight, notice
how their bedroom window framed its silver smile.
And if the moon came out just once a year,
it would be a holiday, with tinsel streamers
tied to lampposts, stores closing early
so no one has to work on lunar eve,
travelers rushing to get home by moon-night,
celebrations with champagne and cheese.
Folks would stay awake ’til dawn
to watch it turn transparent and slowly fade away.
And if the moon came out randomly,
the world would be on wide alert, never knowing
when it might appear, spotters scanning empty skies,
weathermen on TV giving odds—“a 10% chance
of moon tonight”—and when it suddenly began to rise,
everyone would cry “the moon is out,” crowds
would fill the streets, jostling and pointing,
night events would be canceled,
moon-closure signs posted on the doors.
And if the moon rose but once a century,
ascending luminous and lush on a long-awaited night,
all humans on the planet would gather
in huddled, whispering groups
to stare in awe, dazzled by its brilliance,
enchanted by its spell. Years later,
they would tell their children, “Yes, I saw it once.
Maybe you will live to see it too.”
But the moon is always with us,
an old familiar face, like the mantel clock,
so no one pays it much attention.
Tonight
why not go outside and gaze up in wonder,
as if you’d never seen it before,
as if it were a miracle,
as if you had been waiting
all your life.
For more information on Cathy Ross, check out her website.
I imitated this poem, choosing my own subject, playing it out, as Cathy Ross did. Amazing. Try it!
I subscribe to Alison's blog; each poem she chooses floats into my inbox as Poem of the Week. The gift is not only Alison's choice of poems, but her short intros to each poem, which are as gorgeous as the poems she chooses:
Here's the link to the poem she sent May 29, 2021--do click on it...her brief intros are definitely worth reading. But here's the poem if you can't click:
IF THE MOON CAME OUT ONLY ONCE A MONTH
by Cathy Ross
If the moon came out only once a month
people would appreciate it more. They’d mark it
in their datebooks, take a walk by moonlight, notice
how their bedroom window framed its silver smile.
And if the moon came out just once a year,
it would be a holiday, with tinsel streamers
tied to lampposts, stores closing early
so no one has to work on lunar eve,
travelers rushing to get home by moon-night,
celebrations with champagne and cheese.
Folks would stay awake ’til dawn
to watch it turn transparent and slowly fade away.
And if the moon came out randomly,
the world would be on wide alert, never knowing
when it might appear, spotters scanning empty skies,
weathermen on TV giving odds—“a 10% chance
of moon tonight”—and when it suddenly began to rise,
everyone would cry “the moon is out,” crowds
would fill the streets, jostling and pointing,
night events would be canceled,
moon-closure signs posted on the doors.
And if the moon rose but once a century,
ascending luminous and lush on a long-awaited night,
all humans on the planet would gather
in huddled, whispering groups
to stare in awe, dazzled by its brilliance,
enchanted by its spell. Years later,
they would tell their children, “Yes, I saw it once.
Maybe you will live to see it too.”
But the moon is always with us,
an old familiar face, like the mantel clock,
so no one pays it much attention.
Tonight
why not go outside and gaze up in wonder,
as if you’d never seen it before,
as if it were a miracle,
as if you had been waiting
all your life.
For more information on Cathy Ross, check out her website.
I imitated this poem, choosing my own subject, playing it out, as Cathy Ross did. Amazing. Try it!
Wow, wow, wow! You were not kidding!!! Talk about a perfect poem! Absolutely gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you reacted to it as I did, Carol! The poem I was inspired to write from this one was about a dear friend who I have mixed feelings about. It was very very helpful!
DeleteGorgeous poem thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJonathan thank you so much for stopping by! I'm glad you're enjoying its deliciousness as much as I 🌞
DeleteI love the whole possibility of "if." What a great set up for all the rest. Beautiful. Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteLinda ~ right? What would write about?
DeleteI love how this poem asks us to think about our life and pay attention, be present. Something I strive for every day. I clicked through and subscribed to her podcast. Everyone can use more poetry in their lives.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you subscribed, Margaret ~ The beautiful poem she sent today reflects the same thing. Being present in the moment.
DeleteI love that. The ordinary things that we stop seeing are sometimes the most beautiful of all.
ReplyDeleteRuth ~ yes! 🥰
DeleteI remember being sure that my children loved the moon as much as I have all the years & now you've shared this poem, I know, not exactly about only the moon, but I loved it, April, because it shows how we take too much for granted. What a beautiful poetry reminder. I did love her intro, too, hard to imagine being in Istanbul but I'm glad she took us there!
ReplyDeleteLinda ~your kids are lucky to have a mom who loves the moon!
DeleteIf you wrote a poem along these lines, what would it be about... your grands?
I love that Ross's beautiful poem triggered one in you too, April. I love the idea of moon-night, and the whole thought of appreciating the moon tonight and not having to wait until moon-night.
ReplyDeleteDenise ~ appreciating today...poetry does that so beautifully by "exploding a moment," as Irene Latham says
ReplyDeleteOh, April, what a wonderful poem! I think it's a poem I needed to read right now and one that will linger with me. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree...this one is going to stay with me for a long time, too 🌱
DeleteI love it when someone finds a way to write something original about the moon!! I'll never look at it the same way!
ReplyDeleteMe either, Mary Lee! And I'll never look at the person I chose to write about when I used it as a mentor poem the same way, either.
DeleteSimply amazing. This is one of those that sticks with you!
ReplyDeleteRight? Thanks so much for stopping by, David!
ReplyDelete