Saturday, May 9, 2009


The Flower Moon

In icy fullness he sits aloft, enthroned in the blue-black January sky, a lambent wizard whose incantation of frozen light is cast down over snow covered hills for the wolves to find their way home. He does his best throughout the year to live up to the names he’s been given and the first month knows him, by legend and lore, as the Wolf Moon.

He’s christened Pink in the month of April, as he gently drapes the glow of a rose petal over the luminous newness of a Spring night, while the chill of October finds him clad in the orange robes of a Harvest Moon, illuminating the autumnal gold that is sprinkled across the dark fields of the world.

But as all lovers of his magical light can easily agree, he achieves the full height of his powers in May. For this month, this very night in fact, he becomes the Flower Moon, when the spirits of beauty flock to the gardens to drink in the sight of May flowers aglow. They stroll down moss pathways in clear star-strewn dresses, beneath radiant rose arbors he has lit so divinely, they look as though all the world’s fireflies have come there to pose. Indeed every flower, from the aristocratic white orchid on the manor house windowsill to the happy brotherhood of bluebells that holds court on the forest floor - like gemstones from Heaven, all shall bedazzle tonight.

So, look to the flowers when the warm sun sets. For no candle, no kleig, no footlight or floodlight could ever compare to the pure, perennial splendour
that is the Flower Moon of May.


FLY NOT YET

Fly not yet; 'tis just the hour
When pleasure, like the midnight flower
That scorns the eye of vulgar light,
Begins to bloom for sons of night,
And maids who love the moon.
'Twas but to bless these hours of shade

That beauty and the moon were made;

'Tis then their soft attractions glowing
Set the tides and goblets flowing
Oh ! stay, oh ! stay,
Joy so seldom weaves a chain
Like this to-night, that, oh! 'tis pain
To break it's links so soon.

by Thomas Moore

25 comments:

  1. May often reminds me of December, lots of celebrations and mystical light, now I know why!
    I always enjoy your magic...in May!

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  2. I love the full moon and each season can bring about such differences. Lovely words, thank you

    Kim x

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  3. I love how the flower trees bloom in May and the early flowers are blooming. Add a full moon to the recipe and it is a perfect May! xoxo

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  4. I have been keeping your blog open on my computer. I wish I had your thoughts and poetry in a book! I love how I feel when I am here! Thank you and enjoy your weekend!

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  5. The Flower Moon! How wonderful - I shall look out tonight in anticipation.

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  6. You constantly share the wonderful bounty of beauty with us. I an so grateful for your blog.

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  7. Wednesday evening after everyone had left, husband Jim and I sat on the patio and drank the last of the wine -- and watched the full moon rise over the house. It was enchanting. Your post reminded me of that enchantment. Delightful as always.

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  8. This is how I like the moon, elusive like a silk shiny universe. Interesting was that today, as I was driving home I saw the sun setting like a huge orange ball. That is, I think the difference between the sun and the moon, the son is powerful at any time you see her, but the moon is mysterious, atmospheric, elusive.

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  9. Hello P&E,

    Quite simply beautiful imagery with your words! And a super poem too!

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  10. ...and last night was a beautiful full of May Moon.

    Beautiful!

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  11. beautiful as always, Pamela - driving home from the theatre last week, I got the thrill of seeing the gorgeous moon you speak of coming up over our bay - huge and soft yellow in the sky

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  12. May you be awash with moon beams....beautiful xxx
    Lynn

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  13. I've been admiring the moon too. You capture its majesty so well.

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  14. Beautiful, i can feel a flower moon painting forming in my mind !! am off to find my sketch book ...thank you for the inspiration!! ps from knitting....ouch, hope you had something to show for all your pain ;-) hope mine doesn't turn out to be blog-itus!!!

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  15. Beautiful words Pamela!
    Ahh.. the moon... how I love to sleep with its silvery light upon my pillow

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  16. Isn't it amazing how many times the full moon brings on rain or snow? I think of the moon as a confident woman who does as she pleases. Great images. And, of course, the writing is lovely.

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  17. How blissful yet mystical are your words, thoughts and images - thankyou:)

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  18. Very beautiful...and I will look tonight..and tomorrow and the day after...

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  19. Hi Pamela, thank you for your comments and for visiting Cottage garden. Love your blog, so glad I've found you and will visit often. A full moon really is special isn't it ...
    Jeanne
    x
    PS Edward is great!

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  20. Love a full moon and try to be outside to enjoy its beauty.
    At my last home, I had an all white garden that was especially beautiful during a full moon. Lovely words Pamela.

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  21. I have long been a great believer in the special magic of the full moon. Lovely images and words, as always.

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  22. Flower moon, how lovely, I needed cheering up and your blog never disappoints.

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  23. Flower Moon..I love it! That moon lit my room in Flat Rock and helped ease the strangeness of it!
    The flowers there were also in full bloom as their Spring is behind ours! Thomas Moore! Awesome!

    Carol

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  24. Great light capture. The midnight sun is a wonderful event.

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  25. another beautiful post.
    love to A & E xo S & Missy D

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!