This photo is symbolic to me of our times, clouds masking light. It was taken by my brother, Hunter Gibson, on the night of the full moon. Each week I think I won’t find a photo, and something always appears. We find solace as well as mysticism in the moon.
Write a small poem of 16 words or so in response to this image. Place your poem in the comments and support a few writers with your encouraging comments. Low pressure. Open your imagination and write.
Face your inner fright
Margaret Simon, draft
A silhouette by Master Moon
Gator of the night
Reflections on the Teche 
Stunning photo, Margaret – I’d never tire of looking at it, contemplating it. Connecting “inner fright” with “night” is masterful, as night is when our minds are most prone to anxieties and fears. Love your use of “silhouette” – perfect word choice.
So, I played a little with words and forms, should probably keep playing, but here’s what I’ve got so far:
Solace acrostic (based on your line “we find solace and mysticism in the moon”:
Shrouded in clouds, the
Oracle-orb
Lifts a bit of veil in
Absolution, in
Consolation, for enlightening
Every skyward-turned eye on Earth.
Beautiful, Fran. Love “oracle orb” as we find wisdom in nature as well as solace.
Fran, you definitely don’t have to keep word playing. Your poem is beautiful; I feel uplifted! I love your spiritual mood. “Shrouded in clouds” is perfect. I love “for enlightening/every skyward-toward eye on Earth. You are so right. Thank you.
I’m definitely enlightened by the image and your poem–and lifting its veil–cosmic imagery Fran.
Echoes of your heart
silver emits clouded sky
in all that is before us
moon whispers of love
star-sweep tomorrows
and I know you’re not
too far away
Poem By Jessica Bigi
I love the hopefulness of your poem.
Jessica, I replied to your poem below. I must have hit the wrong reply button.
“star-sweep tomorrows” beautiful line Jessica, and love too…
I can imagine these lines spoken by someone separated temporarily from a lover, looking at the moon, wondering if the beloved is doing the same at that moment. Love stretches so far, stays connected, sees itself everywhere and always hopes – how you convey the ethereality and strength of it in so few words!
Margaret, what an amazing photo! The photos you pic out are always perfect for poetry, thinking, getting lost in. Thank you for this opportunity. “Silhouette” is perfect! Love your rhyme and mood. The pic does look like a gator. I love staring at the moon. I immediately thought of:
nightlight
behind clouds
tree frog’s serenade Gail Aldous August 2020
But then I wasn’t sure if peace was implied so I wrote another longer form of this. Do you think peace is implied?
Then, I wrote another haiku with a different meaning. If leave out “brings” is it still implied?
moonlight
tree frog’s serenade
(brings) illumination Gail Aldous August 2020
I think the word serenade implies peacefulness. I like the imagery of nightlight behind clouds.
Thank you, Margaret.
I like your “nightlight” haiku also–fun to bring that word into this image.
Thank you, Michelle.
Gail, like you, I wrote several versions of my poem. Sometimes one word holds up the whole process! Like a puzzle piece that won’t be forced… “nightlight behind clouds” is a lovely line, as is “tree frog’s serenade.” I imagine a little frog singing its tiny heart out to the moon. About “brings”in version two: If you’re not bound by syllables, you could just change it to “illuminates.” I love the spareness and impact of haiku. I sense peace in both of yours, in “-light” and “serenade.” And I do love that little singing frog.
Fran, thank you. You are so right about one word holding up the process. That’s why I love haiku, also. I’m glad you imagined a tree from singing. There were many tree frog’s trilling last night! I love their music.
Jessica, this is beautiful and romantic! I love the lines, “echoes of your heart” and “moon whispers of love.” I agree with Margaret, “I love the hopefulness!”
I got a call from my sister how is going thorught somthing I can’t healp her with like she would like last night I’m not abely to see her right noew somant life clouds it healps know with the moon above us both she not to far away it cok mae a nice love boen aloseing this pic mad me kink of here writhing this gave me much confrent and hope the wish is her unsur heat whispered a heal that I can not geive her expet be her to lison praying for her best
Thank you. I understand.
love poem
I love the “Moon Gator” in your poem Margaret, it really turns the fear in the other direction. Wonderful image by your brother–here’s my poem,
Are you there moon?
We found you by
Hunter’s light and
an illuminated
large bird…
I love how the use of Hunter’s name works in your poem as we are all hunters for the light in this world.
Michelle, I love how your poem makes me think the moon is playing hide and seek! It looks like a bird to me, too.
Michelle, the cloud DOES look like a bird, a young one with fledgling wings. I imagine a child speaking the opening line – sweet and playful poem.