June Moon

(8 quatrains)

1. new moon

one blush rose blossoming east reflects the sun

in more than one sense; the white rose bushes bloom

fair weather clouds come to earth—flying straight west

above blacktop one crow carries the new moon

2. waxing crescent

that single white rose by the front steps unfurls

new petals under the rosemary’s needles—

west horizon holds on almost white at dusk:

the crescent a lone petal in deeper blue

3. half moon

the rhododendron lets its petals fall off

to their mauve sleep along the walkway; brass wind

chimes play a lazy riff down the street; those white

clouds soar: half moon appears to sink on the slant

4. waxing gibbous

the big magnolia’s first white flowers gaze

south past the bus stop sign, almost shyly; this

violet light’s a bruise on the horizon:

the moon’s pupil looks in the same direction

5. full moon

in eight second story windows, just one light—

above the concrete, the shikimi’s leaves nod;

cedar boughs ripple against a dark sky where

the moon emerges as if between curtains

6. waning gibbous

leaves are black paper cutouts on this block past

the white reach of any streetlights; two rooftops

drawn in ink lines hemmed with a golden brushstroke:

moon just past full rises between their chimneys

7. last quarter

beyond green trusses of the Interstate Bridge

three geese fly south: shadows against overcast—

white sailboat mid-river is waiting for wind:

half moon drifts toward setting beyond white clouds

8. waning crescent

petals & leaves of the cirrocumulus:

the eyes can never visit the same one twice;

could cottonwood pollen fall from that distance?

blinded by the sun in search of the crescent

Jack Hayes

© 2017