Moon by Billy Collins
The moon is full tonight
an illustration for sheet music,
an image in Matthew Arnold
glimmering on the English Channel,
or a ghost over a smoldering battlefield
in one of the history plays.
It’s as full as it was
in that poem by Coleridge
where he carries his year-old son
into the orchard behind the cottage
and turns the baby’s face to the sky
to see for the first time
the earth’s bright companion,
something amazing to make his crying seem small.
And if you wanted to follow this example,
tonight would be the night
to carry some tiny creature outside
and introduce him to the moon.
And if your house has no child,
you can always gather into your arms
the sleeping infant of yourself,
as I have done tonight,
and carry him outdoors,
all limp in his tattered blanket,
making sure to steady his lolling head
with the palm of your hand.
And while the wind ruffles the pear trees
in the corner of the orchard
and dark roses wave against a stone wall,
you can turn him on your shoulder
and walk in circles on the lawn
drunk with the light.
You can lift him up into the sky,
your eyes nearly as wide as his,
as the moon climbs high into the night.
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful
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I know. Billy Collins and Snow Moon last night. Hope it was visible to you last night, Nan.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen a snow moon. Another thing for my list.
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It was quite beautiful last night, and even more so tonight as it was rising. Wish I could have gotten a better photo.
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The Snow Moon! From the pictures it looks fluffy, like a buttercream icing, not one full of snow and ice. I missed it here due to storms. Maybe next year.
I do love your windows and have forgotten the proper name for them. They are just gorgeous.
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I like your description, Marilyn. It was amazing this evening rising then a misty veil over it. I’m sorry you missed it – and wish I’d taken out the good camera.
Thank you. Those are the dormer windows to Tom’s office. He said to tell you they are “moon windows”. 🙂
I hope the storms have now passed. We’re looking to some nasty winter weather tomorrow, but, we’ve turned a corner on Old Man Winter.
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I’ve never read this before, Penny, and it’s fabulous! I’ve also never heard of “snow moon,” but I learn so much from you! Tonight I went outside around 8 pm and looked up and just gasped at how beautiful the moon was, and I immediately went into the house and grabbed the girls. One of the planets was visible, too, just off to the side! It does take my breath away. I thought of grabbing my camera, but my “moon shots” are never good. I LOVE the way you captured it out your windows. Lovely to read this tonight before I go to bed, Penny!
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What a perfect way to view the moon; your two darling girls in tow, introducing them to the moon and planets. I’d forgotten the Billy Collins’ poem until I downloaded the photo, and it seemed perfect for the snow moon night. How fitting that you shared your view with the girls. Even last night, the moon was so full and was salmon colored as it rose – until the clouds shrouded it. We have had the most magnificent cloud formation this winter. I wish you could see them. Snow moons come in February. Native Americans gave the moon phases such wonderful names. Have a good day, my friend.
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I soooo love that poem, Penny! Especially this stanza:
And if your house has no child,
you can always gather into your arms
the sleeping infant of yourself,
as I have done tonight,
and carry him outdoors,
all limp in his tattered blanket,
making sure to steady his lolling head
with the palm of your hand.
I took “the sleeping infant of [my]self” out to take pictures of the full moon. It was nestled in the sky, surrounded by clouds.
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Isn’t it an awesome stanza? “the sleeping infant of yourself” There you were, L. Marie, taking that child in you (as I did, too) outside. I only wish I grabbed a nearby blanket instead of my coat. Probably better that I didn’t. The neighbors already wonder about me. This is a good poem to love and keep. Thank you, L. Marie.
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This is so beautiful, I also like the poem from L.Marie. Somewhere I have a Native American poem that describes the moon child. Maybe I can find it and share it.
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I thought so as well, Gerlinde. Those lines from L. Marie are actually a stanza from this poem and I was quite moved by it as well. It is simply wonderful. 🙂
Please, do share the poem when you find it. I would enjoy reading it.
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What a beautiful Billy Collins poem! I’m going to have to share it with Anton to see if he’s read it. This brought to mind a very nice memory I have of sitting outside on the deck one night when Eoin was about two, looking up at a huge full moon singing “Moon River” to him over and over. My captive audience! 😉
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That is such a sweet memory. Eoin might not remember doing this, but, I’ll bet “Moon River” will be forever printed in his mind. That has always been a favorite song of mine and makes me want to watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
I’ll be interested in Anton’s take on this Billy Collins poem.
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“Love it! He’s the man.” – Anton 😉
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I agree, Anton. 🙂
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Oh this is so wonderful. Thank you. I too remember showing the full moon to our kids and it does still seem like a (not so) small miracle when I ‘gather up the sleeping infant of myself’ and go outside to marvel.
On a less sublime note, for years I have made a NYr’s resolution to take a picture of every month’s full moon. I never succeed because in certain months and locations, my skills aren’t good enough. However, I always go outside and look — and from now on I will remember this poem and just be glad to be there marveling! My infant self does not need to set goals, other than to be!
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It is exactly what I did the other night, Sallie, I did grab my coat and then, upon reading this poem again, wished I’d just grabbed a blanket instead. I felt very much like my infant self. Billy Collins is one of my favorite poems and he always “does it” for me with his words.
What a good idea. I never really get a good photo, but, I try. It might be fun to have a full moon journal. Write the date, time, where you where, what you felt sort of thing. Hmmmm . . Then, again, my infant self doesn’t meed to set goals either. It is just enough to notice the moon and be in the moment.
Have a good weekend.
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How beautiful, especially those lines about taking a tiny creature outside to see the full moon. Not a snow moon here, just a big soft summer moon. Thank you Penny.
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Hi Penny, I realized later that it was a stanze from the poem. I should have paid better attention when I read through the comments and the poem😒
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What a wonderful poem, Penny. I only know Billy Collins from the poems you’ve quoted, but this one is so beautiful I’ve book,marked it to read again.
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I thoroughly agree, Perpetua. He has so many wonderful ones, but, this one may be my favorite.
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