Tonight there is SUCH a beautiful full moon! In fact, I have discovered that tonight it is the closest that the moon has been to our Earth since 1993 (long before any of you were even born!!). So, in honour of tonight's moon, here are a few moon poems...Just a note: when I was in grade 5 (which was well before 1993 and the last, very close full moon - practically ancient history!), I had to memorize and recite the poem Silver by Walter de la Mare. I remember being quite nervous about this, but I also remember liking the poem quite a lot. I still do not know what the word "shoon" means...or "casements"...maybe we should look these up together? Anyway, here are the moon poems that I chose for us to consider. I will look forward to reading your ideas and connections that you write about! :) And by the way, I hope you are all having a fabulous March Break!
Silver
by Walter de la Mare
Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy coat the white breasts peep
Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep;
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.
This next one is a bit tricky, but I think that of all the moon poems I found, I like this one the very best, even though there are some complicated ideas and words...like "constancy" (which means to be stable, never changing, faithful, true, loyal, unwavering...does this help?), and even though it is a little sad...my favourite line is "wandering companionless": It sounds so lonely. I would not want to be wandering around like that, without a friend (companion). Now I am feeling a little sorry for tonight's lovely moon...Please write about your ideas and thoughts!
To the Moon
by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Art thou pale for weariness
Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth,
Wandering companionless
Among the stars that have a different birth,
And ever changing, like a Joyless eye
That finds no object worth its constancy?
I also find that the poet's middle name is a very interesting one...!
Looking forward to hearing your ideas! - Ms. K.
