Lunar Eclipse January 20, 2019

by Jane Richards

8:30
The moon shines pure,
    --no ordinary moon, but perigee,
      so close to earth it exhales past its boundaries--
glistens the snow,
cuts shadows in crisp lines,
brings clarity to a winter night.

9:46
The moon, smudged at its bottom edge,
    --no ordinary smudge, like a passing cloud,
      but a stain, a creeping disease over the white face--
lays a dirty cast on the snow,
smearing shadows--
gloom hovers.

10:16
The moon, a feeble frown of light
    --nearly overcome with thickening shades,
      red stain soaking through the grey--
turns snow into a dark shroud,
shadows into black holes--
the night broods in silence.

10:32
The moon gasps,
    --aspirates a last flare of light--
shimmers snow,
recuts shadows
before all illumination dissolves.

10:40
The moon
    --in total eclipse, a strange rust-colored beauty,
      old blood swirling in murk--
abandons snow and shadows to eerie black--
the earth shoulders a heavy burden,
sinks into itself,
threads to its sun severed.