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)
photos of the Super Blood Wolf Moon of January 20, 2019
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.
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.
Glad thus touched you Imelda, but hope not too frightening…!
I love the thought of those lupine spirits loping around. Wonderful use of atmosphere in this poem.
Look to the sky on the 21st Sherry, you might see one…
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.
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.
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.
Hope you enjoyed it Therisa… 🙂
A beautiful write Rob.
Thank you Linda…!
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.
Thank you Grace. I love the mysteries that surround the moon. Great fun! 🙂
Lovely descriptive phrases roll one after the other in this gem of a poem, Rob. You are a true artist with words.
You are most kind Bev! I have always had a vivid imagination. I sm learning everyday how to better describe it in words.
Gosh such exquisite imagery in this one!
Thank you Sanaa, very much!
this is a linguistic feast and feat, Rob…well done! JIM
I am very pleased this resonated for you Jim… 🙂
An interesting poem. It is amazing how a giant dead rock in space can conjure up such magic in people’s mind! Well done!
We human beings are a romantic and supersttious lot Dwight. How bleak the world would be if we were not…
The last stanza took me completely. Thanks, Rob!
You are welcome Reena… 🙂
Can’t wait to see it. Wonderful poem honoring the occasion.
Thank you Jade. I am hoping the westher cooperates here in the PacNW. Being right near the ocean, it is unpredictable.
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.
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.
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 ????
Thsnk you Xenia, I hope we have good fortune in weather that night.
The question marks seem to replace the smiling face emoji …
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.
Love your word choices throughout this haunting poem.
Thsnk you Linda! Glad you enjoyed this… 🙂
Nice description: “the world devoid of color
aglow in sterling grey
a negative of day”
I appreciate that this works for you, thank you for the compliment! 🙂
I too like the image of the negative of day. Things appear differently at night.
Things in moonlight look like silver gel black & white photos Kerfe, very surreal. I love it!
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.
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.
So beautiful. Loves me some wolves. And the moon.
Me too De, me too! 🙂