Nine Ways of Shaping the Moon
for Lissa
1
Tilt your head and laugh
until the night bends
and I see only you.
2
Weave the wind into a song.
Rub its fabric over your skin.
For whom does it speak?
3
Remove all stars and streetlights.
Remove thought, remove voice.
Remove me. But do not remove yourself.
4
Tear the clouds into threads
and place them in layered circles.
Then breathe slowly into my ear.
5
Drink deeply. Raise your eyes to the brightness
above the cedars. Observe their motion
through the empty glass. Repeat.
6
Talk music to me. Talk conspiracies
and food and dogs and rain. Do this
under the wild night sky.
7
Harvest red pollen from the trees.
Cast it about the room
and look through the haze.
8
From the bed, gaze into the mirror.
The reflection you see is the darkness
absorbing your glow.
9
Fold the light around us, and listen.
You are the moon in whose waters
I would gladly drown.
* * *
First posted in October 2014, and again on Valentine’s Day in 2016 and 2017, “Nine Ways of Shaping the Moon” also appears in my chapbook, If Your Matter Could Reform.
Love this. ❤
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Thanks, Merril. This year will mark our 34th wedding anniversary!
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How wonderful!
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It feels more like ten or fifteen years. Where has the time gone?
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We will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary this year–but we met in 9th grade. 🙂
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Now that is amazing!
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Oh so gorgeous.
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I’m so pleased it resonates for you. Thank you.
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This is beautiful
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Thanks very much!
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If you don’t mind, we would love it if you could register on our site and share your content there.
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What site might that be?
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It is an open publishing platform for writers around the world where you can register yourself and start sharing your content.
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Please provide the url. I’d guess that there would be some interest in the site.
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Ascerblog.xyz
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Thank you.
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😊
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A fine Valentine card
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Thanks, Derrick. It seemed appropriate to the day. 🙂
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Superb post for Valentine’s … at least nine times!
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Ha! And thank you!
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Bravo, sir. An ashy Hearts Day feast, to share too
Thanx once again, g.r.
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I’m so pleased you like it. Thank you.
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Awesome. Really great.
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Thanks very much!
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Absolutely beautiful!
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Thank you, Linda.
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One of my favourites!
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Thank you, V.J.
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That last stanza gets me every time I read it, Bob! So deeply beautiful – “fold the light around us, and listen”. Lucky Lissa!
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Oh, Lynne, I’m the lucky one!
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a favorite!
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Thank you, Sarah!
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It’s always a pleasure to read this, Bob.
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Thanks, Ken!
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Beautifully written.
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Thanks very much, Michelle.
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What a true beautiful romantic you are, best wishes for many more years.
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The Lovely Wife brings out the romantic in me! 😄
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Congrats on a gorgeous poem and on weaving a life together.
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Thank you, Jilanne.
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This is really something else. Nice post.
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Thank you, Lee. Much appreciated!
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Oh my goodness.
My favourite R.O piece ever!
🌸❤️
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Thank you, Diana! ❤️
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My pleasure, kind Sir! 😌
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This is beautiful, Robert. My new favorite of yours!
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Thank you, Betty!
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Simply beautiful. May I repost (with credit to you, of course)?
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Thank you. Yes, of course. I’d be honored.
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Beautiful ❤️
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Thank you!
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This poem is exquisite and sublime.
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Thank you, Kenneth!
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