Tonight, when the Oak Moon rises in the eastern sky, it will not be just one moon. It will be one of millions.
Think of all the reflected Oak Moons that will shine on tide pools and city fountains, slide over ocean crests and car hoods, swim in puddles and oil slicks.
It’s as if, each month, the full moon and its countless reflections are racked, struck, and scattered across the earth like so many billiard balls.
And you wrote this wired up to a heaving machine? I am awed. Awed by the moon and all its meanings and associations you so happily list, but by you…that you’ve assembled this wonderful essay that makes my morning, where the moon has been enshrouded by fog, lighter. Thank you!
Thank you, Will for once again introducing and creating moon beauty expressed from a source often filled with pain. I am happy to hear you are home. Your artistry is from a man of grit. You live your name. Will.
What an excellent collection, thank you! One of my favourites is from Kevin Henkes' picture book Kitten's First Full Moon, in which the kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk. In recent years I've become a bit of a fan of moon bathing - sitting in the glow of a full moon. This started with an overnight flight on a full moon, during which the light of the moon shone through the little airplane window for hours on end and it felt quite magical. Now I try to seek it out whenever there's a full moon, if I remember, and if there's no cloud coverage.
I like what's attributed to Gregory Corso. I use to hang out at a bar near the Navonna. The owner had a real showcase bar where a number of famous folks were rumored to hang out. It was always crowded. In fact, the owner and the famous folk went instead to the owner's other place a dive bar near by, with formica bar tops and florescent lighting... a place that only the owner and his friends would stop at, it seemed so unappealing. The first time I went there was with a friend who was the owner's spiritual director (only in Rome). I got to talking with someone at the bar and suddenly we heard this shouting and cursing and then my friend shouted duck and a bottle of whiskey came flying out from a room nearby smashing into pieces over the bar. "E Gregorio Corso," my friend commented. Corso continued to howl, the owner cleaned up the glass and booze and we talked about imagining Corso sitting on someone's couch trying to ask his host for his daughter's hand in marriage... I dont know what moon was out, but Im sure it was full.... Happy to hear you are out of the facilities.. Happy Christmas, Jim
I’ve no idea what Octavio Paz would think but I thought the poem was stunning 💗
You are writing my favorite substack newsletter. Thank you!
In my neck of the woods, I can’t see the moon tonight—it is raining. Earlier today we had snow.
The moon figures prominently in this Lorca poem, going through several transformations as the drama unfolds down below. It is a favorite poem of mine.
https://poets.org/poem/romance-sonambulo
How strange to have needed to hear her many names tonight. Thank you for this rumination♥️ and all the others as well
Pure moon poetry:
Tonight, when the Oak Moon rises in the eastern sky, it will not be just one moon. It will be one of millions.
Think of all the reflected Oak Moons that will shine on tide pools and city fountains, slide over ocean crests and car hoods, swim in puddles and oil slicks.
It’s as if, each month, the full moon and its countless reflections are racked, struck, and scattered across the earth like so many billiard balls.
I absolutely loved the fullness of this, it captured so well the travels of the moon. It's such a gift to read these lovely words✨️
And you wrote this wired up to a heaving machine? I am awed. Awed by the moon and all its meanings and associations you so happily list, but by you…that you’ve assembled this wonderful essay that makes my morning, where the moon has been enshrouded by fog, lighter. Thank you!
“The full moon is legion.” Love this! 🌕
Wishing you relaxed rest and healing.
Many decades ago, when my nephew was a young child, he looked at the crescent moon and said to my sister, "Look Mom, a fingernail in the sky!"
Love everything about this, Will! Thank you
Fabulous post! Just wonderful! Happy Oak Moon!
The Full Moon resembles a gateway, or maybe a LENS.
It was compared to a beast that endeavored to devour the Sun.
I would compare it to Apophis / Apep although it's seen as the vessel of at least ONE of the Egyptian gods, Khonsu. Health to you, Will !
Thank you, Will for once again introducing and creating moon beauty expressed from a source often filled with pain. I am happy to hear you are home. Your artistry is from a man of grit. You live your name. Will.
Wonderful to know you are home and healing; fingers crossed for progress...
Thank you for this buffet spread of lunar apparitions!
Glad to hear you are home, Will. What a brilliant collection of lunar writings! And imagined writings. Thank you.
I love that you dreamt a complete poem! I only wish my dreams were that fancy. Take care, I hope your recovery is gentle
What an excellent collection, thank you! One of my favourites is from Kevin Henkes' picture book Kitten's First Full Moon, in which the kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk. In recent years I've become a bit of a fan of moon bathing - sitting in the glow of a full moon. This started with an overnight flight on a full moon, during which the light of the moon shone through the little airplane window for hours on end and it felt quite magical. Now I try to seek it out whenever there's a full moon, if I remember, and if there's no cloud coverage.
AI is such an idiot
I like what's attributed to Gregory Corso. I use to hang out at a bar near the Navonna. The owner had a real showcase bar where a number of famous folks were rumored to hang out. It was always crowded. In fact, the owner and the famous folk went instead to the owner's other place a dive bar near by, with formica bar tops and florescent lighting... a place that only the owner and his friends would stop at, it seemed so unappealing. The first time I went there was with a friend who was the owner's spiritual director (only in Rome). I got to talking with someone at the bar and suddenly we heard this shouting and cursing and then my friend shouted duck and a bottle of whiskey came flying out from a room nearby smashing into pieces over the bar. "E Gregorio Corso," my friend commented. Corso continued to howl, the owner cleaned up the glass and booze and we talked about imagining Corso sitting on someone's couch trying to ask his host for his daughter's hand in marriage... I dont know what moon was out, but Im sure it was full.... Happy to hear you are out of the facilities.. Happy Christmas, Jim