Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Dark Moon, New Moon

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Source

“In our village, folks say God crumbles up the old moon into stars.” 

― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life. . . 

"From untruth lead us to Truth.
From darkness lead us to Light.
From death lead us to Immortality.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace."

--Vedic prayer from Brhadaranyaka Upanishad

“A new moon teaches gradualness

and deliberation and how one gives birth

to oneself slowly. Patience with small details

makes perfect a large work, like the universe.”
― Jalaluddin Rumi

“Sometimes, they say, the moon is so busy with the new souls of the world that it disappears from the sky. That is why we have moonless nights. But in the end, the moon always returns, as do we all.”  ― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

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Midweek Motif ~ 

Dark Moon, New Moon

           Says:

"Historically and pragmatically speaking, The Dark Moon refers to the period of time when the moon exhibits zero illumination, while the New Moon starts the very first day that the moon appears in the night sky as a slim sliver of light. By this reasoning, the Dark Moon is a one day event, while the New Moon lasts approximately 7 days as a Waxing Crescent, right up until the First Quarter of illumination."

I think we're talking about that mysterious turn around time here. Maybe there is a moment's emptiness before the waxing begins, a moment without the reflected light of the sun. It feels dark, but often has the most stars we ever see.

Your Challenge: In your new poem, paint a picture with images you know in this Dark-New Moon.

Source, Source, from Dream Work

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Fragment, Source
by RUPERT BROOKE

I strayed about the deck, an hour, to-night
Under a cloudy moonless sky; and peeped
In at the windows, watched my friends at table,
Or playing cards, or standing in the doorway,
Or coming out into the darkness. Still
No one could see me.

I would have thought of them
—Heedless, within a week of battle—in pity,
Pride in their strength and in the weight and firmness
And link’d beauty of bodies, and pity that
This gay machine of splendour ’ld soon be broken,
thought little of, pashed, scattered. …

Only, always,
I could but see them—against the lamplight—pass
Like coloured shadows, thinner than filmy glass,
Slight bubbles, fainter than the wave’s faint light,
That broke to phosphorus out in the night,
Perishing things and strange ghosts—soon to die
to other ghosts—this one, or that, or I.

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Why Are Your Poems so Dark?

by LINDA PASTAN

Isn't the moon dark too, 

most of the time? 

And doesn't the white page 

seem unfinished 

without the dark stain 

of alphabets? 

When God demanded light, 

he didn't banish darkness. 

Instead he invented 

ebony and crows 

and that small mole 

on your left cheekbone. 

Or did you mean to ask 

"Why are you sad so often?" 

Ask the moon. 

Ask what it has witnessed.

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Michael Kamen's symphonic poem "The New Moon in the Old Moon's arms, 

inspired by the history of the Native American Anasazi people. 

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Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community—  

(Next Midweek Motif will be Sumana's prompt ~ Journey.)