Wolf Moon

  • The full moon each January is called the “Wolf Moon”. The full moon this January 2019 is a very rare “Super Blood Wolf Moon

     

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    Wolf Moon

    ~

    wolf moon hangs heavy
    in the january night sky

    bulbous moist orb
    rolling damp
    in a cold chromium fog

    wet slivers of cloud
    smear themselves
    across its face

    irregular

    like translucent sacks
    of moonbeams

    breathing
    breathing

    glassine billows
    oozing
    soaked with midnight

    stars float and spark
    glinting
    dripping
    shivering

    flash points
    in a wolfen eye

    frozen splintered crystal tips
    diamond chips
    pinprick rips
    in blackened space

    they wink and wane
    and sputter

    shattered bits of silvered light
    snapping here then not
    behind the ghostly white vapor
    that slithers
    through the firmament

    the world devoid of color
    aglow in sterling grey
    a negative of day

    thick and chilled

    filled with the sound
    of stalking after-dark things

    lupine spirits afoot
    prowling
    growling

    the hoarse breath of the beast
    festers a howl
    harrowing deeply this dank night

    nocturne

    the sorrowing hour
    to lay bare your soul
    in pale introspection

    in grief of secrets

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2007
    (revised © 2019)

    18C38E95-0CC6-4CBA-862C-2204934AB6027BA63C9E-0765-493D-A6D1-3BDEB94C9F46
    photos of the Super Blood Wolf Moon of January 20, 2019

    __________________

    The story of the “Super Blood Wolf Moon”

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    This past Sunday, January 20th, at 9:12 PM PST, we here in the Pacific Northwest witnessed a rare spectacle in our clear night sky – it was the totality of a full lunar eclipse of a Super Moon. Super indicates closest proximity to earth. This first full moon of the year is always known reverently, as the Wolf Moon, which is appropriate given the deep, ancient ties between wolves and January’s full moon.

    For instance, the Gaelic word for January, Faoilleach, comes from the term for wolves, faol-chù. The Saxon word for January is Wulf-monath, or Wolf Month. Meanwhile, the festival of the Japanese wolf god, Ooguchi Magami, is held in January. The Seneca tribe links the wolf so strongly to the moon, they believe that a wolf gave birth to the moon by singing it into January’s sky. The Sioux tribe calls January 20th’s Wolf Moon the Moon When Wolves Run Together.

    This particular wolf moon of January of 2019, will be a “Super Blood Wolf Moon”, and will be fully visible to all of America after sunset on January 20. An exceptionally big, bright, red moon will be dazzling in the sky. It’s a total lunar eclipse, meaning the sun and moon will be perfectly aligned on opposite sides of the Earth. The moon will be completely covered by the Earth’s shadow and take on a reddish “blood moon” tint. Red due to dispersion of sunlight through earth atmosphere.

    The eclipse will occur with the moon at it’s closest to the Earth, making the moon appear brighter and bigger than usual, known as a supermoon. This coming “super blood wolf moon” is a very rare celestial event! OK, so this might be a little myth, a little mystery, and a bit’a “my gosh!”… but it’s fun, and will be a fascinating event to witness. To pay homage to January 2019’s “Super Blood Wolf Moon” I have written this poem to honor the proud lone wolf.
     

    click here to read more poetry at dVerse

  • 40 thoughts on “Wolf Moon”

    1. This piece is so atmospheric. The lines give me the chills and the feeling that I do not wish to outdoors during this kind of night.

    2. You snagged me at /in a cold chromium fog/. Great dusting off and revision of your piece; the stunning descriptive word-smithing gave me shivers. Your work has a grandiose quality to it. I didn’t realize that you’ve been living in Seattle for years.

      1. I have been attracted to the wolf aspect of the moon, so I dug this us injected the lupine elements, then tightened it up significantly, focusing at this month’s unusual moon. Yes, my wife and I had to abandon our eden when my health made it impossible for me to help maintsin the 5 acres. We wanted to be near our grandson, and my son insisted he wanted to help be a caregiver for me, so 3 years ago he bought a big beautiful home right on the border of Kirkland and Kenmore overlooking St Edwards Park. The entire lower level is a wonderful large “in-laws” apartment. It is a 2-bedroom, walk-out “sunlight” apartment with its own deck. I also have a room where I set up my art and writing studio – so it is great. After 26 years living in the foothills, with our old-growth, we are there no longer 🙁 – but we are happy and safe (less than 5 minute ambulance ride to my hospital and all my doctors), AND absolutely love hearing the footsteps of our grandson Alex everyday when he comes bouncing down laughing to visit and play. Life is pretty damned good! And I am pretty damned lucky! 🙂 BTW, I prefer the phrase “large atmospheric scale” over the term “grandiose”. Lots of negative connotations there, unless that was your intention.

    3. Rob, your author’s note give your poem, an extra lift to the reader, which otherwise, would have been ignorant to. How various cultures view wolves and the January new and full moons.

    4. I admire the hues and details like chromium fog and flash points
      in a wolfen eye. There is a darkness that is filled with grief of secrets. A wonderful share tonight Rob.

    5. Your poem contains such delicious sounds and imagery, Rob, such as
      ‘bulbous moist orb
      rolling damp
      in a cold chromium fog’;
      ‘glassine billows
      oozing
      soaked with midnight’;
      and

      ‘frozen splintered crystal tips
      diamond chips
      pinprick rips
      in blackened space

      they wink and wane
      and sputter’.
      It’s a poem that has to be read aloud and savoured.

      1. Thank you Kim, I am pleased you liked it. I LOVE the “sound” of words when spoken, either aloud or in the mind. If I have two or more words I could possibly use in a line, and still maintain the meaning and intention of the line – I always choose the one that sounds the most sensual, that feels good in the mouth. I have always been fortunate to have a rich baritone sounding voice, having been a singer, as well as making commercials in the 80’s for radio for Honda motorcycles and a number of other products. So enjoying the sound of words and the pleasure derived from speaking them in rich diction, has always gratified me. Certainly not making comparison, but Poe also loved the sound of words. I carry that into my poetry. I also love creating atmospheric poetry, because I enjoy the visual impact. Probably because I am a mixed media 3D artist, so that also informs my poetry. If this all sounds boastful it is not my intention. I just wanted to share my honest perspective and motivation in writing poetry.

    6. A very atmospheric write Rob and thank you for sharing the additional notes as well. I too love the mystery of the moon and am looking forward to seeing her on the 21st January. Here’s hoping for a clear sky for us all ????

      1. I know, emojis don’t translate on my site. It may be because I have been publishing and self hosting my site for nearly 15 years, and I have such insanely dense content on it, I choose not to update the underlying WordPress. If I were to lose the hundreds and hundreds of poems, art, photos, short stories I have on my site – it would wipe out a decade and a half of my creative efforts. I would be utterly devastated! Not worth the risk. I am right now researching if there is any way l can effectively and safely digitally back up my entire site.

    7. What an elegant and moving description, Rob. I was right there. I especially love the ending:

      the sorrowing hour
      to lay bare your soul
      in pale introspection

      in grief of secrets

      Standing in the vast light of the moon often feels this way.

      1. Glad you enjoyed this Angela, and thank you for the kind words. I love the mystery and sense of magic that the moon imparts. Being a night-creature, with my bedtime being 5:00 AM <> 11:00 AM, I enjoy when dark is upon the earth. Incredibly peaceful and creative time.

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