Dark clouds lift and take my soul;
daytime solitude,
taunted by spring sun and blossoms,
fades into clair de lune,
madness hugs
and kisses the moon,
her friendly face
the soft pale blue of porcelain glaze.
I stand at the window and gaze
at a night-blackened empty street,
no cars pass,
no people strolling by,
but after the dark clouds of lunacy,
moon and stars stud a clear sky.
Kim M. Russell, 24th March 2020
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Poetics: Now I Can See…
Mish is hosting Poetics today with some enlightening words from Mizuta Masahide, the 17th century samurai and poet, a student of Basho: “Barn’s burnt down, now I can see the moon.”
Mish reminds us that, in Zen poetry, the moon often symbolizes the truth or ultimate awareness and, in this quotation, the burning barn could be the hardship or catastrophic loss we must experience in order for the sky and mind to clear, creating a new view, and a possible awakening.
Mish links this to the current world crisis, in which it may seem as though we are watching pieces of our normal life breaking away.
Mish asks us what we see? Is it something we haven’t seen before or something we’ve forgotten? What does Masahide’s represent to us and what do our burning barns look like? That’s what we’re writing about today.
This definitely resonates in many ways. The empty streets are such a haunting reminder of this unbelievable shift in our lives. Love the description, “madness hugs” and the musical choice seems perfect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mish. I’m coping better in the early morning and at night. Daytime is weird when you can’t get out and about.
LikeLike
It really does feel like a bad dream sometimes. Hang in there, Kim. Somehow we will get through it. Stay home, be well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
accepting starlight
in search of consolation
beauty in darkness
LikeLiked by 1 person
🌝
LikeLike
These are weird times… we are still allowed to walk about… and frankly where I live there is no-one about anyway. Really love how you became sane in the moon… so different from normal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Bjorn. Daytime is so strange now, especially as I’m self-isolating and don’t go anywhere or see anyone.
LikeLike
We have not strayed from home in the last three weeks… but we do have work… and meet online for hours each day.
LikeLike
Kim, I love the ‘dark clouds of lunacy.’ It’s such a surreal world place we are all in right now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda. I don’t know if its a comfort or not to know that we are all experiencing the same thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, madness stalks us all in our straw houses, crossing every border, fangs flashing, dipping into the crowd indiscriminately for snacks, fish in a barrel, ducks in a row.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Throughout the day, the uncertainty preys on me, night comes and I relax a little, knowing I’ve got through another day, and then morning light, which is getting earlier, wakes me with a start. When will the madness end?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, beyond the clouds the stars still shine! Well done…. The empty streets are very haunting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers Dwight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your description of the moon, “her friendly face the soft pale blue of porcelain glaze.” Such a pretty song that induces solace in me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad to see the moon and stars coming out for the evening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comfort at the end of an uncertain day.
LikeLike
Kim I love the lines Madness hugs and kisses the moon, her friendly face
the soft pale blue of porcelain glaze.. So pretty 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Christine!
LikeLike
We see more of the world without the distractions of other humans. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed we do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read this aloud and it was a lyrical symphony to my ears! Love the title. I especially liked the lines,
“but after the dark clouds of lunacy,
moon and stars stud a clear sky.”
Seem like a great way to end a remarkable poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Rashi!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful poem Kim, the friendly face in the moon is always there for us 💜 xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Xenia. ❤ xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful. It is easier to forget lunacy of our days in the quiet normalcy of moonlit, star studded night, it’s true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🌃
LikeLike
We are all looking for that clear sky!
LikeLiked by 2 people
great documentation of our weird situation, glad you find peace at night 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
kaykuala
but after the dark clouds of lunacy,
moon and stars stud a clear sky.
It all goes to show that a clear headed personality may still not be good enough to be effective!
Hank
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Hank!
LikeLike
I like the contrast of empty streets with the clouds and stars, which give real hope
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for commenting on the contrast, Larry. It’s essential to the poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it’s very important
LikeLiked by 1 person