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| Photo via Unsplash |
Trans-
by Rita Dove
The moon is in doubt
over whether to be
a man or a woman.
There’ve been rumors,
all manner of allegations,
bold claims and public lies:
He’s belligerent. She’s in a funk.
The moon. Today, January 3, 2019, the Chinese landed a rover on the far side of the moon. (How did I miss that they landed a rover on the near side of the moon in 2013?!?)
Coincidentally, I just finished listening to Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. It was all kinds of eye-opening -- the lingering effects of Jim Crow, discrimination against women, the evolution of computing from human to machine, and that the cost of space exploration was seen as extravagant when huge segments of the population were economically depressed (suppressed). Similarly, in this New York Times article about the Chinese landing, a citizen was quoted, “The economy is bad,” she said. “Is it really a good thing for the country to spend recklessly?” Echoes of the past.
And my birthday/Christmas present got hung tonight. My sweetheart "lassoed the moon" for me. Five different phases of the moon, to be exact: handmade ceramic representations of waxing crescent, first quarter, full, last quarter, and waning crescent. Just like photos of the real moon taken with a mortal camera, this photo doesn't do the installation justice.
And my birthday/Christmas present got hung tonight. My sweetheart "lassoed the moon" for me. Five different phases of the moon, to be exact: handmade ceramic representations of waxing crescent, first quarter, full, last quarter, and waning crescent. Just like photos of the real moon taken with a mortal camera, this photo doesn't do the installation justice.
Sylvia at Poetry for Children has our first Poetry Friday Roundup of the year with a sneak peek of poetry books that will be published in 2019!
Oh, how I love this moonstruck post! Thanks for sharing all, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What a perfect present, too.
ReplyDeleteYour gift is awesome, Mary Lee. I've studied the moon with students often, a wonderful thing to celebrate with them, and to continue in awe myself. Today I might venture that our moon is a woman,
ReplyDeleteI was blown away by that Chinese moon story yesterday, too. I love your moon gift!
ReplyDeleteThe moon is also on Kurious Kitty's mind, too, this Friday. So much more to be explored. So many more poems to be written.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift, Mary Lee. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool gift! (I find the best gifts are often the ones that don't translate well in photos... Must.Be.Present.) And I love Rita Dove's Trans moon. Happy belated Birthday, Mary Lee! xo
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool! :)
ReplyDeleteNeat present! I want to get my older granddaughter a moon lamp. I think she'd love it.
ReplyDeleteOoooh! I want a series of moons! I have planets on a necklace, and I ADORE it... happy birthday, cousin!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous gift, Mary Lee! I read Hidden Figures just after the movie had been released and found it to be a fascinating read - so many layers of history revealed in that book.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift! I am fascinated by the many faces of the moon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely gift to receive from your sweetheart. I love how you tied it to the poem...which is also beautiful and true! Well done.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to love about this post, Mary Lee! Your moon phase art is amazing, and I love the last line of Dove's poem--so many possibilities! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great moon poem! I will always remain fascinated by the moon's ability to be bring us wonder.
ReplyDeleteRita Dove ends her poem so beautifully and masterfully,
ReplyDelete"Dip deep, my darling, into the blank pool."
Your present is spectacular!!! How wonderful to have that hanging on your wall. The last thing I do at days end is look out my window to view the sky and the moon, if "she's" there. Thanks for this richly woven post Mary Lee.
How thoughtful that gift is, Mary Lee. Now, you can gaze at the moon whenever you like. As for the gender of the moon-while in Florida for the NCFL Conference, I took a beach yoga class. My teacher told us to look to the moon who is female. It was an amazing experience that you can see a photo and read about at http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2018/09/listening-to-roaring-waves.html.
ReplyDeleteI love the poem you shared. It will be rolling around my head this week. Happy birthday--and enjoy your moons.
ReplyDeleteOh, Mary Lee -- those moon phases!! How gorgeous!!
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