Song to the Moon

I see the moon and the moon sees me....

Photo by Javardh on Unsplash

“The moon looks wonderful in this warm evening light, just as a candle flame looks beautiful in the light of morning. Light within light... It seems to me to be a metaphor for the human soul, the singular light within that great general light of existence.” Marilynne Robinson

What is it with the moon that captivates us so? Its beauty and mystery have been sung about for centuries.  Dvořák's Song to the Moon melts hearts through the ages. Borges writes about the intimacy and closeness we feel with the moon, as if it were “a mirror reflecting back at us”.   And Emily Dickinson brings the moon to life: “she turns her perfect face upon the world below.”

The moon is a beacon of hope and light in the darkness, an invitation to behold its beauty. Simone Weil affirms that “it represents the beauty of God”. And unlike the sun, the moon invites us to look-up and be in awe. The moon expands the human capacity for wonder at the mystery of the universe and the natural world. It illuminates a human capacity “common as light” of what is best and largest in our nature.

"The moon is a reflection of the human spirit, a reminder of our place in the world and our connection to the universe." - John Keats.

A few years ago, America was captivated by the total eclipse. It was a celestial miracle that brought people together, from hilltops in Vermont to a rest-stop on Rte 66 — People gathered to witness this momentous event, united by the moon’s borrowed light.

“What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves?” Thomas Merton

As we enter this era of uncertainty, where we seem out of touch with the natural rhythms of life; the moon serves as a reminder of the simple truth that we all see the same moon and bask in her light.  We are all connected by the same human longing to connect and to see and be seen.   There is only one moon, and its gentle light covers us all.

Walt Whitman writes “After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, love, and so on — have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear — what remains? Nature remains… the trees, fields, the changes of seasons — the sun by day and (the moon and ) the stars of heaven by night.”

Our world is a complicated, and can be a brutal little orb. As I continue to celebrate the moon, I’ve come to a simple truth: There is one moon. It’s borrowed light covers us all. When I talk to the moon, you my loved ones, out there, might be whispering up the same words — I see you, draw near.

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More Moony Quotes:

1. "The moon is always there, shining down on us, reminding us of the beauty in the world." - William Butler Yeats

2. "The moon was a ghostly galleon, tossing on cloudy seas." - Alfred Noyes

3. "The moon has a magic that transcends all things, reaching deep into the soul and stirring the imagination." - J.R.R. Tolkien

4. "The moon is not a deity, but a celestial body that has captured the hearts and minds of people for centuries." - Jane Austen

5. "The moon is a queen, ruling the night sky with grace and beauty." - Edgar Allan Poe

6. "The moon is a symbol of mystery, hope, and wonder, illuminating the darkness and inspiring dreams." - Mark Twain

7. "The moon is a reflection of the soul, a window into the heart of the universe." - George Eliot

8. "The moon is a companion, a guide, and a friend, lighting the way in the darkest of nights." - Mary Shelley

9. "The moon is a constant presence, reminding us of the beauty and mystery of life." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

10. "The stars about the lovely moon
    Fade back and vanish very soon,
    When, round and full, her silver face
    Swims into sight, and lights all space” Sappho

11. “Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights; Four nights will quickly dream away the time; And then the moon, like to a silver bow new bent in heaven, shall behold the night of our solemnities.” Shakespeare