Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017 Poem

moon pulls a room-darkening shade

across the sun, a small circle

to have a private conversation,

a face-to-face performance appraisal

between this midsize star

and earth’s orbiter

after nearly a century.

the moon first gives sun honor,

praises its radiance,

while the sun bathes the side

of the moon we can’t see

in invisible, noncommittal light.

the moon, more assertive than usual,

asks for higher recognition in the solar system,

despite its pockmarked, dusty complexion,

telling the sun it needs a promotion,

after toiling and twirling

all these years for earth,

never revealing its bad side,

no matter how much it wanted to.

showing off now as it casts cities

and states one by one into shadow,
however fleeting,
hurrying on to make the next impression.

still seeing no response from the sun,
the moon turns to the words of man,

speaking the language of each country

it traced in its former eclipsical paths.

reciting to the sun countless poems

that poets have written

about its fullness and mystery,

believing earthly rumors

woven on terra firma

might make good references.

but by August 22,

the eclipse comes to an end.

the moon is disappointed.

but the sun smiles,

opens its round yellow mouth

and tells the moon,

“I know it’s been

a long 99 years,

spaceships have landed

on your surface in the interim,

for the first time,

earthlings have left

footprints across you,

stuck flags in your face,

alien colonies make

way stations

on your

dark side,

nonetheless,

you continue to reflect,

to orbit, wax whole, wane crescent,

play hide and seek,

making the same loyal dance

every 28 nights,

nonetheless, you want an evaluation?

how about a question?

can what I say or

any earthbound poem

still the twice-daily tides you create

that rock the world?”

                        ~ Cynthia Gallaher

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Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017 Poem