image from fineartamerica.com
Raven Moon
“I’ve never seen a full moon in the sky, that if it didn’t
take my breath away, it at least displaced it for a moment.”
--Colin Farrell.
The moon is 400 billion years old, been worshipped as a god,
been used as a compass, been a boon to farmers, & has been
blamed for murder, mayhem, & madness. Those who ever doubt
its power clearly have never stood staring at it in a desert night sky,
or on a mountain top while wolves, coyotes & dogs howled, high
tides rose & fell, & the Roman goddess Luna raced across the
horizon in her glowing silver chariot.
I once stood outside at midnight during a Supermoon, when it was
within 90% of its closest orbit to earth, 8% larger & 17% brighter than
usual. I swear to you I sprouted fur on my ears, had to suppress a
howl, & wanted to elongate my canine teeth.
There are those who believe that fertility is enhanced during a harvest
moon--which probably is untrue, but any excuse for increased procreation
is welcomed. In the early 19th Century, astronomers believed they could
see cities on the moon through their telescopes, peopled by Lunarians.
In 1946, there were folks who believed the Nazis had bases on the dark
side of the lunar surface, & further that Hitler had fled there, not to South
America, to live out his life in luxury in an underground bunker. Then there
are those lunatics who still believe that Apollo 11 never actually landed on
the moon, that it was all a political hoax, revealed clearly by O.J. Simpson
& James Brolin in the movie CAPRICORN ONE. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin
once became so exasperated with a heckler that he punched him in the
face. Aldrin was never prosecuted for the assault.
A full moon stirs the
blood, tugging at the sea in-
side our salty husk.
Glenn Buttkus
Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub
23 comments:
I especially enjoyed reading about your 'supermoon experience,' Glenn! And I definitely believe every word of it.
The last paragraph is my favorite, especially the part about Hitler.
I love the way you line-broke your haiku, drawing out "A full moon stirs the[e]" (speaking directly to the reader, almost giving him/her permission to be stirred." Also, the middle line reworks itself into "tugging at the sea in blood." And then the closing line becomes something like "our salty husk set to the side"; in other words, the moon gives us permission, not only to get naked, but also to remove our bodies as if they are clothing, and to only exist in the raw, true, free spirit. Is "wildness" really wild, or is it just an unbound state of being? It doesn't have to have such a dangerous, negative connotation ... "wild." It just means that you're letting energy flow into you, through you, and out of you ... to feed the universe. What if that were what birthed the universe and kept it spinning? Energy itself. It cannot be contained, limited, or destroyed by any foolish body who tries to stop it from flowing, fast and hard, like a river. We don't need permission from the moon, or anyone else, to ride the rap-ids --- or to be them.
The moon can do so much to us... there is a pull of proximity the sun can never give... there is something about it's nightly ways that really pull me into awe... and I can clearly see you howling to the moon...
"the sea inside our salty husk"! Beautiful!
I didn't know that about Aldrin. Don't blame him, to be honest, although I don't advocate punching people ... although my mother did teach me to pop the classroom bully in the nose when I was 6 ... the moon made me do it would've been a good excuse.
Indeed! Anyone who believes that the moon has no effect on us is probably half-dead... nah, at least two thirds gone.
I completely enjoyed the poem and the your reading of it. The way you myth, science and living dance within poetry illustrate all the reasons why I love words and storytelling. We can see so much farther, when we let words open our hearts (and brains). And of course, when we look at the moon... ♥
What a great kick-off quote, Glenn.
I love the way your factual prose leads to this bit of fantasticness:
"tugging at the sea in-
side our salty husk."
Swoon.
I feel like going outside when its full moon and howling, smiles ~ Well lots of stories with the moon and what it can do ~ I specially admire that word break - in-side our salty husk ~
Thanks Glenn for joining us at Haibun Monday ~
Absolutely loved this - added it to my Pinterest poetry :) Just well done - and loved the read too. Thanks.
tugging at the sea inside our salty husk.. love the haiku Glenn and the description of your supermoon experience.
Loved your haibun, the moon has been the source of so many stories through time. Your haibun I enjoyed very much.
We used to camp in Big Bend National Park. The moon and sky are so close you could almost reach out and grab them. it is a wonder beyond understanding, but you did a good job bringing it out. It does tug at us like a tidal wave.
I love the opening quote, the factual story, the image of you sprouting hair and howling at the moon, and the haiku, as others have said the salty husk part. I guess I love it all... :)
this is a great piece of prose...coupled with some wonderful tidbits of history and intermixed with humor.
i like it. a lot.
this is my first time to your blog. i shall return! :)
Oh wow, Glenn! I've learnt some interesting things and have a wonderful image of you turning into a werewolf, but the haiku blew me away!
I've certainly imagined being a Lunerian at one time or another. :) Loved reading all this lunar lore. And the haiku -- oh my....reminds me of a new way to describe my dad --- he was a salty husk indeed :) Thanks for this post, Glenn. Caused me to smile many times and reconnect to new thoughts and memories both. Enjoyed it immensely!
I enjoyed both the reading and the listening. Thanks!
ZQ
Fact-filled prose and interesting haiku.
There's no way a truly beautiful full moon can be ignored.
Our salty husk, indeed, Glenn! Appreciate the lesson and the observations! Brilliant piece!
history, beautiful prose and poetry all in one - love it!
I enjoyed your share of different moon lore through the ages, Glenn. There were many a time when our family's Sheltie and I would howl together...egging each other on...moon or not. There's something very satisfying about a good howl. :~) Love your haiku!
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this.
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