Monday, January 27, 2020

THE NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON


I come to the river in secret 
When the moon is full.
That seductive sorceress calls me
As the sacrificial bull.
When I approach the river 
With only board in hand,
Mythical creatures surround me--
All called by Her command.
On the rock sits our heron,
But he's a bird no more;
He's more the gangly warrior,
Guarding the River's door.
And frolicking in the water
Are fish and nymphs alike.
The mermaids sit upon the rocks,
Hair glowing in lunar light..
Even the dimmest stars 
Have a life of their own:
They dance like painted ladies
In gowns of silk they have sewn.
And the breezes down the gorge
Summon me along
To the sacrificial altar
With their celestial song.
So I jump upon my board
For I know what I must do.
Our feathered warrior nods approval,
Allowing me to pass on through.
To the altar I paddle,
On this my final flight.
The creatures watch, all chanting,
"Goddess powers all unite!"
Then my senses tingle
As moonlight creates a dome.
It shines far below me,
Illuminating the maelstrom.
A pearlesque enchantress
Descends from the moon
And with finger touched to water,
Makes the whole earth swoon.
My board begins to disappear;
My hands begin to fade.
I can't tell the diff'rence
Between myself and the wave.
Then, utter silence!
My mind is no more.
I awake to the sight of boaters
All standing on my shore.
They quickly paddle to me
And surf upon my curves.
Sometimes I like to throw them off
When they start to swerve.
They bring to me their sadness,
And I return euphoria anew.
For with my lunar sacrifice,

My dreams have all come true.

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