Thursday 30 November 2017

I Want To See A Moon With You

by Helen Bar-Lev


1.
I want to see the new moon with you
the moon that is almost invisible
so thin only a diamond could have sliced it
so wispy a slight wind could blow it away
this is a moon for women

a sliver in the heavens
an outline more brilliant that the whole itself
it supports the weight of its darkened globe
squint your eyes to see its fullness
blacker than the black that surrounds it

it is a portal for new beginnings
ancient man was pulled to it too,
recorded it on the walls of caves
carved amulets in its shape

from the beginning of history and before
women have celebrated it, worshipped it,
danced in its dimmed light
spies have applauded it

2.
I want to see a half moon with you
lit as if to conserve energy
tip it to your lips like a silver goblet,
drink in its shine

it is a sphere split in the middle
like an orange, a watermelon
suspended in its forlorn orbit
no awes for this unfortunate orb

its other half is hidden
it will spend a month
gradually being reunited with it,
its completion, its reason for being

this is an insecure moon,
doubtful of its ability to reunite
with its twin soul

we empathize with this moon
reach up to touch it
to reassure it
that it will be whole again, soon

3.
I want to see a full moon with you
surreal and sensual
a holy day moon, a mood moon,
it guides dreams and tides
this is a masculine mood

watch it rise silently,
pale to yellow to silver to white
illuminating this mountain
casting an aura around us
surrounding us with a cloak of light

attractive as an actor
it has everything in its favour
it has been praised in poems, howled to,
described in so many ways that it’s become a cliché

proud, bold, noble,
a counterpoint to the sun in the afternoon,
it commands attention,
will never bore nor be ignored

4.
I want to walk on a carpet of dew
on a mountain that looms above all discord
paint on a canvas that renders the mundane ethereal
and love eternal

I want to view
all the phases
of the moon
with you


* * * * *

© 6.2017 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.

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