Letter to Schwaner from the Toad-Swallowed Moon
Dear Jeff: The glow here betrays our fantasies,
and between day and night and that uncertain
moment when neither holds sway, I have gained
a toehold on consequence. Who knew darkness
could shine so? Last November the surgeon
incised my belly six times but no light oozed
out and little crept in. I say little, but feel
a peculiar radiance emanating from my middle
which I can only attribute to the moon, although
the medical professionals would say it’s just
gas. But what do they know of Sheng-Yu or
Li Ho, of jade wheels and spilled cups? Last
night, to honor our marching sisters, I looked
to the cloud-filled sky and toasted them and
our ancestors, the poets and scapegoats, friends,
allies, compatriots, Five White and Jackboy,
shedding a solitary tear of joy in the process.
We won’t label the other tears, but I shudder
at our country’s current course and how the
bulging wallets of the rich continue swelling
at the expense of the poor and unhealthy,
the elderly, the unacknowledged, and those
living on the fringes, in colored shadows.
If we meet in person on some desolate, moon-
free road in a country that could never be,
how will I know you but from the ghosts and
smiles sparkling in the surrounding fog,
and the little voices singing their sad tune
of happiness into the night. This is where
we stand today, but tomorrow? Look for me
on that bench. I’ll be the full-bellied fellow,
the one with an eclipse leaking from his shirt
in a six-point pattern, two glasses in hand,
wine uncorked, ready for reptiles and politicians,
mirth and causation and good conversation
in brightness or tenebrous calm, whichever
needs replenishing more. But bring another
bottle. Or two. Talking makes me thirsty. Bob.
* * *
My poem “Letter to Schwaner from the Toad-Swallowed Moon” was first published at The Hamilton Stone Review in October 2017. Much gratitude to editor Roger Mitchell for taking this piece.
O at the Edges 
Beautifully expressed with great eloquence. I especially love these lines:
“We won’t label the other tears, but I shudder
at our country’s current course and how the
bulging wallets of the rich continue swelling
at the expense of the poor and unhealthy,
the elderly, the unacknowledged, and those
living on the fringes, in colored shadows.”
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You are so kind, Marta. Thank you!
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You are very welcome.
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What eloquence! Wonderful.
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Thanks very much!
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This one is a rare find. From the unique title to the last word…positively poetry in motion.
I love it.
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Thank you, Sarah!
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sorry about the unfollow. But your graphics flashing are just damned annoying. I do enjoy reading your things. But . . . . not with the flashing graphic as the calling card.
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Hmm. Not sure what you’re talking about. Graphics flashing? my settings are set at standard, and when I view the blog, the graphics are static. Perhaps it’s a software glitch.
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hi. It happened before on your post on my screen.
o well. I need to see your posts so. will reverse my harsh acts of late last night
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Welcome back, and thank you. I looked at the blog on five different devices (Mac, Windows PC, iPad, Kindle and phone) and couldn’t get the flashing to duplicate. I have no idea why this has occurred.
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It’s an interesting effect that started a month or two ago. When I click the “# new posts” at the upper right of my Reader, if one of them is a re-post of yours the graphics will flash (sometimes). It corrects as soon as I refresh my browser.
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How weird. I just tried yet another computer (the 7th device thus far!), and haven’t encountered the problem. Could it be something to do with updates or plug-ins?
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I don’t know about that, but I’m pretty sure yours is the only one that does that in my reader, and (I think) it doesn’t happen when you initially post something – usually only with updates.
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I’ll report it to WordPress. Maybe they’ll have an idea. I certainly don’t want to unintentionally annoy people.
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