Faithful Servant

Solstice arrived this past week and brought along a full moon to the celebration. Almost half a century gone since its last invitation. I admit this was the first time I heard of a Strawberry Moon. Harvest Moon, Hunter's Moon, Blue Moon, those I know but never considered the possibility of others. Surely, if some have names, all of them must.

They do, and have for thousands of years. The names come from those people who relied on the moon and its cycles to track the seasons. Not unlike us with today's calendars. Next one up, according to Native American lore, the Buck Moon. Meanwhile, this orb continues to inspire stories of all manner in imaginations everywhere, including my own.



Faithful Servant


I looked on a gibbous moon
and the night disclosed softened
features on a pockmarked globe.

A scarred follower pulled
by the charm of the planet it shadows,
Sancho to Don Quixote,
subtly tugging, asserting gentle influences.

But from all reports
the master remains self-absorbed
and mostly oblivious.



Marilyn Aschoff Mellor