Today, one from the archives. Or rather, one from the file I should rename “When the heck did I write that?” Actually, I have an idea about when I wrote it, back when I was mulling over a picture book based on an old zen koan. So this is around a dozen years old.
Mooncatching
To catch the moon
first dig a hole
and fill it full of water.Then late at night
when stars come out
start barking like an otter.Circle around
and check the hole
from every direction,And soon enough
you’ll find the moon
caught deep in its reflection.
It’s simple. what can I say, I like simple sometimes.
By the way, this weekend – Saturday especially – the moon will be the closest to the earth that it’s been in 18 years. It will appear to be 14% larger than normal, and if you can catch it coming up on the horizon it’ll look huge. Make sure you have a big enough bucket! While moongazing, why not sing a happy song to help it along?
It’s Poetry Friday in the Interhood! (Like that word, Interhood? I just made it up. Portmanteau words are good.) Andromeda over at a wrung sponge is hosting the roundup over in her neck of the Interhood this week.
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Like your poem, Dave! And “Interhood.”
Don’t know when I’ve thought about barking like an otter. I’m sure it’s about time.
everyone should think about barking like an otter. frequently.
Can’t wait to see the veryclosemoon!
Like the poem — if you hear any barking this weekend, it’ll be me. Just thought you otterknowthat. :D
Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
*groan* i guess i set myself up for that one. alright, let the floodgates open! everyone chime in with otter jokes!
Your poem has such a combination of serenity and oddity (those otters) – I like it very much and know that I’ll be thinking about it tomorrow night during our supermoonview. The song rattled me, in a good way, I think. But I’ve never really seen anything like it! WE LIKE THE MOON! A.
serenity and oddity, coincidentally, just happen to be the names of my twin muses, who are often too busy fighting each other to give me any guidance or divine inspiration
That last verse is especially striking – perhaps because one can extrapolate its sentiment to more metaphysical things? Soon enough, one does find what one is looking for “deep in its reflection”. Thanks, David!
filling a hole (void) with reflection (introspection) was central to the original koan. the trick was trying to capture it in a poem originally intended for younger readers but with “older” resonance. i’d hoped the meaning was gleaned with sounding too forced.
We really like tha moon, but that song…not so much! Creepy eyeballs on those critters. Hoping for a clear night so I can watch the big, full, close moon rise. What was I doing 18 years ago when it was this close the last time, I wonder?
Oh, I like this. I like simple most of the time. Well done!