Saturday, we were at a jack o’ lantern walk at the elementary school where my youngest graduated a few years ago.
Because it’s rural Vermont, it was dark, and everyone was spread out. I slipped away from the few kids and walked further along the woods path. I know this path well, and it veers down to the wetlands. There, I leaned against a white pine. The moon was nearly full, and the silvery light skipped over the rippled water.
For the longest time, I stood there, knowing my daughter was happily wandering around in the dark with her friends. In the darkness, I remembered the countless times I had admired this lovely lady moon — over fresh snow and icy backroads, in the muggy heat of summer.
At the beginning of this election week, I woke thinking of our beautiful moon, silently orbiting the globe.
The old man of the temple,
Splitting wood
In the winter moonlight.
— Buson
Stony Soil Vermont 
A peaceful full moon hanging over an autumn woods / armed intimidation, riots, martial law, descending democracy. Quite a week we have planned.
A heck of a week, one way or another…. For years, I believed we were living through the end of the American Empire, but I didn’t expect our world to fall apart quite so quickly.
It was a spectacular moon, especially on its rising. May the beauty of that image remain with us through what we know will be a chaotic week.
Looks to be unmatched chaos; I’m hoping I’m wrong.
We’re all so tense right now, I’m trying to keep my mind as calm as possible, but it is not easy. I’m working the ballot box tomorrow, and have no idea what to expect. Moon, don’t fail me now!
Excellent Buson selection. The scene is stark and a bit lonely…with an odd inner warmth. Reminds me of moonlight. GT
I love this poem, too. Fresh snow in Vermont this morning. Absolutely lovely!