When I look down I face the harvest moon
Although I see the earth in morning light.
The sun climbs on my back until it’s noon.
Dead trees lie on the ground, rebirth in sight.
The harvest moon, bright round, will shine tonight.
The woodland path unwinds me here and there
Then stops as cautious deer run off somewhere.
Text: The form of this poem is Chaucerian stanza or rime royal using iambic pentameter with rhyme pattern ababbcc. I plan to use this form on Thursday for the dVerse Form for All.
Photos: “Path Through Fallen Tree”, above, and “More or Less Facing the Harvest Moon”, below, by the author. Linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with theme “Under the Harvest Moon” and trablogger’s Mundane Monday. I took all photos at Somme Woods Forest Preserve in Northbrook, Illinois, around the time of the harvest moon.
Perfect Frank.
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Thank you, Peter!
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Beautiful imagery Frank, both in the words and in the photographs :o)
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Thank you, Xenia! I’m glad you enjoyed the poem and photos.
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To me this poem conveys a subtle mysticism. It certainly resonates and you are lucky to a voice worth listening to.
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Thank you! I think there is a subtle mysticism here if I could only understand it better. I’m glad you enjoy these.
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“The woodland path unwinds me”
Wow, I love that!
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Thank you, Marley! The unwinding is what I felt was going on inside me as I wound down that curving trail until I met those deer and the path became unclear.
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My favourite part as well
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Thank you!
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Very nice and mysterious. I won’t see the moon tonight, its pouring with rain here!
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It was raining during the peak of the harvest moon for me as well. I see the full moon period as six days long when the moon enters the earth’s magnetotail, rain or shine. That process supposedly affects the moon and maybe us as well. Thanks, Kim!
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It is pouring with rain in Johannesburg too, Kim.
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I like both Spring and Fall and life-giving rain. Thank you, Robbie!
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Excellent photos, Frank, thank you. Also, that’s an ambitious poetic meter you chose, I’m impressed.
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Thank you, Dale! I was hoping to get the full harvest moon, but it was cloudy and I only have a phone which doesn’t take good pictures of the night sky.
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That’s my problem, too. Although I do have a good long exposure setting I could use, it’s a good solid tripod I still need to acquire, my mini one is a little too unsteady. I am tempted to try one of those flexible, universal grip things, I’ve seen a few good reviews of those.
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I hear long exposures and a tripod are critical for night photography. One day I might get a real camera and justify the expense of a tripod. Right now I like being able to carry everything in my pocket. The universal grip tripod might work for my phone.
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Oh yes, I am also renowned (possibly to strong a word?) for only using my phone camera, as I don’t own a camera or computer.
I have done a few experiments with night photography/light painting and got some pretty good results, so I think a solid tripod is a fair investment.
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I didn’t know you only used your phone and that you don’t have a computer! I am impressed with what you are doing without those. I can barely type on my phone and it is a larger Samsung Note 4. I was looking for a tripod for it two years ago but it was too large for what was available at that time. These modern phones are pretty good for the photos most people want to take and they are easy to carry around.
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I have four (five, maybe?) blogs and a YouTube channel, plus goodness knows how many social media accounts, oh, and a published novel; all without ever having owned or used a computer for any of it.
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I am impressed! I didn’t think that was possible with only a phone.
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Great poem, love the path too!
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Thank you! I was surprised to see those stumps on the trail. The people maintaining that part of the forest preserve mark the trails with dead branches and so using stumps makes sense. Still the trail sometimes disappears.
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This is a beautiful poem. Thank you for introducing me to Chaucerian stanzas.
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They do sound nice and they are shorter than sonnets. I am glad you liked this!
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A lovely poem, Frank. I love the moon, beautiful and mysterious.
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Thank you, Robbie! It is mysterious even if it is on the other side of the earth during the day. The full moon is a special time of its cycle.
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What an interesting form: stately and noble perhaps – there’s certainly the sense of walking progress in the rhythm. I particularly liked the last couplet – the path ‘unwinds’ you and ‘stops’ you is great.
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That unwinding and stopping is what I felt actually happened. When I disturbed the deer I felt it was time to turn around because the trail ahead was not as clear and I didn’t want to get lost. Thanks, Peter!
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Frank, you have this way about your voice. I picture you reading this poem amongst your other works at an open mic reading. This is great a good poem and I love your voice. Truly and honestly, I love your voice and the way your tone expressed every line. 🙂
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Thank you, Charlie! I have read at one poetry event for the Illinois State Poetry Society and there will be another at the end of the month. I enjoyed doing it as well as making these recordings. It is a final way for me to make sure the poem sounds the way I want it to before posting it.
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Excellent. Hopefully, in the future you’d have someone record you on footage to watch your performance live. 🙂
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I may do that if I give a featured reading.
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I like the sound and the image that you created in this poem. Both are tranquil and comforting.
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Thank you, Imelda! I am aiming for tranquil and comforting.
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Fantastic pose, Frank! You’ve managed to ccapture the ‘spirit’ of the Harvest Moon perfectly. Well done.
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Thank you, K’lee! I figured I was at least looking at it except the earth was in the way.
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Lol! I missed a letter there… fantastic pose was suppose to be fantastic PROSE… ooops!
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I’m going to look for that path to unwind me…(K)
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Most paths unwind me unless I stay focused on stuff in my head. Thank you!
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I like ‘the woodland path unwinds me here’
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Thanks, Janice! Walking on these winding paths seems to unwind me. I’m glad you liked that line!
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Beautiful post.
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Thank you!
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I love this post!
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Thank you!
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Exclamation
Point of Stumps
Spirit Trees Left
Behind
in
Roots
Sprigs
of Green
come new
Fires refresh
Nature’s Need Rebirth..:)
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There will be rebirth somewhere. Thanks, Fred!
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Nature’s
Ways..:)
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Lovely poem very visually appealing!
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Thank you, Amanda!
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“rebirth in sight”. I liked that
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There is much of it in the forest itself after one leaves the picnic area. Thank you!
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