Earthshine

Earthshine

The new moon holds the old moon tight.

Her dying partner glows with faint earthshine,

as by the lake the evening deepens, sucking up the light.

The old moon has not long now, just one night,

to whirl her final turn above the far skyline.

The new moon holds the old moon tight.

Across the darkening waters, gulls in flight

head down towards the sea, a slender line

that disappears as evening deepens, sucking up the light.

There was a younger moment when we might

have grasped the stars and twisted them to our design.

The new moon holds the old moon tight.

But in this instant we are timeless, blazing, bright,

As if intoxicated by the fumes of new-pressed wine

We drink as evening deepens, sucking up the light.

How can we know which choice is wrong or right?

Which star to wish on? There is no clear sign.

The new moon holds the old moon tight

as by the lake the evening deepens, sucking up the light.

AJS