The moon by Josie Di Sciascio-Andrews
by Steven McCabe
I am the moon
round
distant
cold light
reflecting the sun’s warmth
back to a blue planet
a lover’s smile
forever light years away
black space
gravity pulling
tidal waves of emotion
forever love
on shores of childhood dreams.
I am the moon
pale maiden in the morning sky
large orange crone at dusk.
Alone
I ignite the dark
for moonlight kisses.
Josie Di Sciascio-Andrews has two collections of poetry: “The Whispers of Stones” and “Sea Glass”. Nature and one’s place in it, is her muse. In 2013, she was shortlisted for Descant’s Winston Collins Best Canadian Poem Prize. She lives, teaches and writes in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
poemimage 
I love these images. They are reminiscent of fifties and sixties illustrations, but are totally of the moment at the same time. And they work beautifully with the poem.
Hi Richard, Thank you for this thought-provoking observation.
And when one reads lines such as:
…pale maiden in the morning sky
large orange crone at dusk.
The grand rollout begins in memory: images of museum pieces, bygone civilizations where the crone exists painted on clay in scenes with reeds or willow trees or water. Or carved in a relief. Or perhaps a tapestry. And the pale maiden in book illustrations one saw as a child…perhaps fairy tales or art nouveau inspired or floating against a white background…
& when illustrations in children’s magazines reflected current advertising and print techniques…
Alchemic images, as always.
And picking up from our last conversation, the basketball and the plenilune are similarly shaped; the basketball is terrene and the shining moon heavenly–and there’s the dichotomy again. And now you continue with the moon, the source of aqua mirifica.
Aqua mirifica: the water of ablution. Dew from the heavens purifies the body making it ready to receive the soul.
More on jlg’s film:
The moon represents the Virgin Mary in Christian iconography. Yet the film is about the nexus of the sacred and the profane–another dichotomy.
Greetings Prospero, …Interesting that our conversation can continue within this new context…Yes, the moon!
I wonder if seeing those images in the Godard clip you shared influenced my choice of poem from Josie Di Sciascio-Andrews. It may have. It seems more than likely. We were considering which poem to use. Perhaps her moon appeared in a new light. Interestingly she teaches both French & Drama. Perhaps an unspoken element within her text. And the school scene in the film.
Aqua mirifica. Dew from the heavens purifying the body? Can light be considered a dew? “…Tidal waves of emotion.” Light, tide, moon, dew. This is a fascinating term; with an alchemical origin?
Does our focus on the moon, in text or image, adjust our eyes from the profane & aim our being into the ‘dew.’ Where is our soul before it is purified? Inactive? Not yet ignited?
“Alone I ignite the dark for moonlight kisses’ reminds me of Emily Dickinson’s thought ‘Genius is the ignition of affection.’
I must see that film and read about Aqua mirifica.
I very much appreciate your insightful visit!
Perhaps you are tinkering with the anima, seemingly disguised in lilting willows, while brazenly signalling solidarity in bold ambers and blue greens.
Lovely images, Steven … as full as this full moon.
Hi j.h., Thank you for your thoughts and always good to hear from you. Your thoughts are very knowledgeable and poetically interpretive.
I am the moon
I am the moon
Alone I
How Josie begins the three stanzas in her poem.
I repeated those words almost like a chant to myself… and the colour dynamics began to suggest themselves…the response perhaps intuitive…perhaps sensing the meanings beneath the meanings in the poem….
with your exquisite images you have done great honour to the lady of the night and to the poet…a lovely dance Steven…
John, Thank you for your artist eye and thoughts, as always. (I suspect) the images were waiting and ‘an igniting in the dark’ (to paraphrase the poem) began their construction…
Gorgeousness. That first image!!
I see feathered wings and magic light that wraps around the planet.
Hi Karen, Love this idea of wrapping around the planet. just to play with your words: wings of light…feathered magic…. Thank you.
I always make the “mistake” of commenting after all the other regulars have submitted their insights, which are always so stunning- and I wonder what I can add. But it is so fun to engage your work, Steven. Both your recent posts are ambassadors of a hidden light. That first image here- like a dragon-messenger having delivered his life giving word, turning to journey into the night again. And like the tide, we’re pulled after him with our longing for the light and warmth. -or turning into that soft and sunken place in the bed, recently abandoned by the lover, but still warm. I also find fascinating the “lens play” in the images- like daylight through a bent glass- casting periphery rainbows, or a movie that shows the spy’s circular view through binoculars or telescope, so that here, the moon becomes the sun’s periscope for the turned away earth.
Thank you, Steven.
Hi Jack, I have to smile a bit at the idea of you making a ‘mistake’ when you comment. Of course nothing you say is ever mistaken and always well received. I agree with you about what has been written in the comments. I’m often so amazed at the observations. Coming from such fascinating perspectives and vision.
I love this idea of a dragon messenger. You’re putting things squarely in the realm of myth which I think is your second home.
I was feeling the solstice day in conjunction with Josie’s moon. And that brought an entire train of ancient cultural references (story) into play. You nailed it with your references and pictorial extrapolations. Actually your images seem ‘fashioned’ in that way you work with materials. I will thank you.