The Moon of the Mountains

by Helen Bar-Lev

The moon of the mountains

is larger, brighter, swallowing the heavens,

closer too are the jackals

and nights are cool, even in summer

The sun seems closer also

and some days the distant ranges

are so defined and crisp

it is as though perspective

has been obliterated

and peaks not seen before

are sudden in their beauty

So that there is a feeling

of floating above it,

up up to the place where

the moon looks down

and directs its beams

to brighten the mountains

Then up further through the milky way

to disappear into it

to become one with it

a beacon for the traveler

who might prefer to observe the world

from this unusual perch

before returning to continue

the journey on planet earth

* * * * *

© 9.2009 Helen Bar-Lev

Helen Bar-Lev was born in New York in 1942. www.helenbarlev.com  She holds a B.A. in Anthropology, has lived in Israel for 46 years and has had over 90 exhibitions of her landscape paintings, 34 of which were one-woman shows. Her poems and artwork have appeared in numerous online and print anthologies. Six poetry collections, all illustrated by Helen. She is the Amy Kitchener senior poet laureate. Helen was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2013 and is the recipient of the Homer European Medal for Poetry and Art. Helen is Assistant to the President of Voices Israel. She lives in Metulla, Israel.