A hearty welcome to you and to a poem from Nan Harty about the sun and the moon. Only visible from Antartica, the “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse darkened the sun on February 17. Nan’s poem references a solar eclipse in the first line of “Stepsister” and then opened my imagination to thoughts that were previously not there. Ah, that’s what poetry does! Opens doors to new insights and perspectives. Do read the poem! Tim
Nan Harty has written poetry for over twenty years with themes of nature, place, and people. A “community poet” with something to say quietly in concert with poets who gather and share in libraries, and bookstores, and living rooms all over the Northwest. She is a member of Poets Table in Seattle. She has published a book of poems, THE TELLING OF THE TREES.
Stepsister
Nan Harty
The year of the solar eclipse
the moon played second fiddle to the sun,
this entity which moves the oceans,
and rules the night.
True, the sun comes every day
lighting up the world,
warming up our earth,
as nothing else can.
Still, the moon arrives daily,
its muted light, quiet in her presence.
She lets us look at her,
the sun does not.
I love her “slivers” through to her crescents,
onto the fullness of her orb. The moon is
not afraid to change.
Sun glasses, eclipse glasses, car visors,
sun hats, now UV protected clothing –
the sun seems so demanding. Our moon
invites and gently welcomes lovers,
sleepy children, and gazers.
She is not a stepsister.
She is Cinderella.
CREDITS:
Writer: Nan Harty
Photographer: Maureen Mitchell, flickr, space
Graphic Designer: Tim Olson
Editors: Lorelie & Tim Olson
To read Nan Harty’s previous poem, “Blue Christmas” – click here
