Ministry of the Moon

Mama sings to her sweetheart,

a mysterious man in the moon. 

She points out eyes and a face, but 

I see only rabbit ears, a crow’s 

beak, or shadows tangled like lace. 

Malcolm explains 

ancient words from the 

mariner’s rhyme: The moon

 knows best how to minister - by 

making brilliance bearable - for

 brides who dare not gaze 

full at the groom. 

Mama’s song 

about kisses and misses 

and grown up blisses 

swirled over my childish head. 

He watched and waited, 

till finally I saw him. Now, 

I want to marry him too. 

I read Malcolm Guite's "Faith, Hope and Poetry" slowly. I spent time ruminating long in the section about The Moon and the Mariner. A spiritual feast. 

We met Malcolm at Kindlingsfest last summer. How apt. This is how kindling happens.