Friday, August 22, 2014

Poetry Friday: All Moon-mad, Again



Lots of family obligations lately, which means not much writing time. But even when life is busy, there is time to go out and gaze at the moon -- especially when it's a "super moon." How beautiful was that last one? Answer: VERY BEAUTIFUL.

In honor of my seasonal moon madness,  I offer up this poem by Carl Sandburg. It doesn't have the formal inventiveness I usually like -- but I love the boy with the accordion, I love the old man and the cherry trees, and most of  all I love the fact that it is, at heart, all summer and all moon.

Happy Poetry Friday! Only a few more weeks of summer left - make the most of them.

Back Yard 


Shine on, O moon of summer. 
Shine to the leaves of grass, catalpa and oak,  
All silver under your rain to-night.  

An Italian boy is sending songs to you to-night from an accordion.  
A Polish boy is out with his best girl; they marry next month;
    to-night they are throwing you kisses.
 
An old man next door is dreaming over a sheen that sits in a
     cherry tree in his back yard. 
 
The clocks say I must go—I stay here sitting on the back porch drinking
     white thoughts you rain down. 
     
     Shine on, O moon, 
Shake out more and more silver changes.

                                                  --Carl Sandburg 



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Today's Poetry Friday round-up is being hosted by Irene Latham over at Live Your Poem. Head over there to see what other people have posted. 
 

10 comments:

  1. I love Sandburg's simplicity.

    That photo of the accordion player is a hoot. And so joyous!

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  2. Love this poem and that boy with the accordion!

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  3. Oh yes, shine on! Love this post, Julie, the poem and the wonderful photographs too.

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  4. Yes! Shake out those silver changes! Love poems that celebrate change. O summer! Thanks for sharing, Julie. xo

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  5. "The clocks say I must go—I stay here"
    Thanks for this offering to your "moon madness," Julie. And like the others, I am charmed by the accordion player!

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  6. Hi, Julie. Beautiful poem. We just published a poem about Carl Sandburg on the first trans-Atlantic commercial flight in Little Patuxent Review. I'll have to send it on to you!

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  7. Julie, that August moon was spectacular. Thanks for pointing out Sandburg's moon poem.

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  8. I didn't know about this Carl Sandburg poem - it is filling. Food for the soul indeed, as is the sight of the supermoon. :)

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  9. Tonight I will throw kisses at the moon. Thanks for sharing this beautiful, new-to-me poem.

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  10. This Sandburg poem is new to me as well, Julie. Thanks for sharing it and the great photo of the accordion boy! Too cute! = )

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