Water ripples beneath,
moved by the wind,
as moonlight shimmers
on the pool surface
this cool eve.
How are you, Ms Moon?
Do you recall
just a month ago?
How relaxed life was down here?
The heart of Summer,
days and nights
in a sleepy town.
Passing the time
with nothing much…
a perfect escape
from the preceding weeks of madness.
You were there
that night,
when I gazed up at you,
your glory shining through moody skies,
pregant with the next deluge.
You were there
when we sat
by the gently flowing river;
milkshakes and conversations
on a nocturnal outing
in our mosquito-infested holiday home.
You were there
the nights the kids bounced
with reckless abandon
on the giant trampoline…
future memories in the making,
in these golden years they’ll always treasure.
You witnessed
our night swim –
rugby in the pool
under stars so bright;
and our mini golf adventure,
lit by phone torches,
as we blocked the paths
leading to the little swamps around –
clearly placed there to make visitors buy more balls.
You were there
when we returned –
back to a new home,
in a new year,
awaiting new challenges
(and joys).
And still, you’re here –
your luminous glow
lighting our loadshed nights,
and silently watching by day,
as sunlight conceals
your never-ending presence.
You’ll be around
to witness
the things we lose and gain;
the celebrations and pain;
the growth we never feel in the moment of stretch,
as each of us pushes through
the weeks and months
which tick down
towards our inevitable demise.
And when we leave this realm,
you’ll shine down on our graves.
And maybe you’ll remember us.
And maybe you’ll miss us.
And maybe you’ll recall
the lifetimes we had together.
So,
shine on,
Ms Moon.
Your light is always welcome…
our nightly boon.
Photo by Guzmán Barquín on Unsplash
slip-sliding away..... 