Pearls & Moons
As if the universe knew about our upcoming poetry prompt, the other night there was a gorgeous “pearl moon.” The sky was luminous with its glowing fullness. The pines moved in a light breeze, as if at play with the pearl moon. So beautiful.
In celebration of Every Day Poems permissions editor Rick Maxson’s debut collection Under the Pearl Moon, our December theme is Pearls & Moons.
You’re invited to join the celebration by penning a Pearls & Moons poem of your own!
Try It: Pearls & Moons Prompt
Write a poem that features pearls and the moon. Alternately, write a poem modeled on the title of Rick’s new collection (Under the Pearl Moon); you can use “under the pearl moon” as your opening line, as your title, or you can use a different gem of a moon—”under the ruby moon” or “under the emerald moon” or “under the sapphire moon” and so forth. Let’s sparkle up December with precious moon poems!
Photo by Olivie Strauss, Creative Commons, via Unsplash.
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Bethany R. says
Having a fun time with words this morning —
https://substack.com/profile/40441376-bethany-r/note/c-44843115?r=o2srk
bethany says
(And in the replies over there, I put an updated moon)
bethany says
And here is the updated link that will take there. 😉
https://substack.com/profile/40441376-bethany-r/note/c-44859817?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=o2srk
L.L. Barkat says
SO wonderful!!!! 🙂 What a great idea. And the artwork is a delight.
Bethany R. says
Thanks so much, LL!
Laura Lynn Brown says
under the pearl moon
jade firs shelter
a ruby cardinal
keeping his topaz eye
on the onyx cat
tucking her rose quartz toes
in a contemplative pose
on tiger’s-eye leaves
under the pearl moon
L.L. Barkat says
What a richly fun poem, Laura! I love all those precious stones that are infusing all those nature images. Double delight.
Bethany R. says
Ooh, beautiful, Laura. Clever how you wove that kaleidoscope of gems throughout your piece.
Julia says
Here is my haiku – thank you for the wonderful prompt!
moonbeans kiss the sea
pearls of light on waves cascade
heavenly duet
L.L. Barkat says
Loving that idea of the heavenly duet. Thanks for sharing your poem, Julia! 🙂
Julia Stüber says
Thank you so much, L.L.! <3
Bethany R. says
Happy I got to read your poem, Julia! Thanks for sharing it with the community here. 🙂
Sandra Fox Murphy says
Inspired by Rick Maxson’s new collection, here is my pearly poem, a work in progress:
Pearled Portal to Another World
-I-
We’ve all done it, found
the conch shell on the shore,
held it to our ear.
Listen.
Listen.
You’ve heard it,
the sound of the sea,
a Shankha, purifier of sin,
the trumpet of waves,
echoed
in that other world,
heard and hidden.
-II-
I’ve always wanted to see
the tiny land where waves break.
What color is their sky?
Are there birds that fly
through golden clouds?
Does it snow inside,
mother-of-pearl drops?
Does it hear us?
Or are we ricocheted,
a reflection in time
where the universe
is mirrored?
Perhaps, through the door
is a heaven held in hand.
-III-
Life smoothed to a sheen
within the blues of the horn,
Poseidon’s trumpet calling
the creatures of wild seas
where, perhaps, once rolled
an ancient past filled with song
of trees and winds,
a goddess of prosperity on a coiled
savannah edged by oceans—
land filled with winged beasts
and serpents, reptiles emboldened.
The conch heard it all. Like an echo,
do all the eons before us
reverberate ‘neath a moonstone moon?
-IV-
The rhythm of waves
roll in my ear, reel
the sway of seafarers,
sailboats on billows
where hemp-stitched sails
shudder in cadence with dolphins
and whales breach for air.
The fragrance of sea
moss, kindled in starlight,
wafts, a siren song lures
us into imagined havens
sailed in galaxies
humming Iris DeMent:
let the mystery be.
D. Julian says
moons long borne
out into bright cosmic night
on mechanical cresting recollections’ waves
of first sound
spiraling univalve
ever recurve, recurse
a course trailing after
rocks, after suns
phi fie fo to the fum!
pearl-whirled strings astrum,
whing high,
hum low…
as beaded harp abacuses
in susurrus, in media res,
and it is time they sing