Friday, September 04, 2009

The Moon and I


It's all in my head, some may tell me. But the phases of the moon affect me. Maybe that's because I'm part-lunatic. Certain stray branches in the old family tree point that way. A great-great uncle would paddle out in his currach and sing to the moon most weeknights. "Appeasing her" my grandmother would tell me in all seriousness. Maybe I don't do enough of it. Appeasing that is. It not being in my nature 'n all. Being a part-lunatic, you see.

I'm still a mad fan of Gilbert & Sullivan. I sang those operettas for a few years in Cork under the able direction of James N. Healy, himself a true eccentric. Hang on, this is going somewhere.

I often sing this to myself when the moon calls me:

Observe his flame,
That placid dame,
The moon's Celestial Highness;
There's not a trace
Upon her face
Of diffidence or shyness:
She borrows light
That, through the night,
Mankind may all acclaim her!
And, truth to tell,
She lights up well,
So I, for one, don't blame her!

Ah, pray make no mistake,
We are not shy;
We're very wide awake,
The moon and I!
Ah, pray make no mistake,
We are not shy;
We're very wide awake,
The moon and I!

It's from the Mikado

I think it a very good thing to be slightly mad. I'm getting better at it as I age.

11 comments:

  1. I think the moon must have a very negative effect on me. I really loathe the darkness and can't wait to see the daylight again. If I could sleep straight through the night like a cat or a koala, it would be wonderful.

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  2. That's the whole trick isn't it. to become better at your madness as you get older? I must refine mine and make it a showcase that I can pull out and show off any time. Make it a very specific madness that will be best observed when the circumstances are the most fortunate. How very good of you to think of it. Will we compare madnesses? Too bad I can't observe the moon very well in town.

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  3. A post after me own heart WWW! :-)

    I'm supposed to be ruled by the Moon (Cancer rising). When it's full I have found myself feeling over-emotional, weepy at times. Doesn't happen every time though.

    When the Moon's full, most months, it shines directly and like a lamp into the window of our bedroom near my side of the bed, so I can gaze up at it through the veneian blind, as I lie there.

    Glad you're growing into your "lunacy". :-)

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  4. @Nick:
    I gather even the moonlight doesn't comfort you? I sometimes find it bright as day here (such as now with the Harvest Moon). I often say I could sleep on a clothesline, I should be more grateful for that capacity.
    @Irene:
    I think embracing all our facets, mad and otherwise, really helps us in being true to ourselves. It takes a long time though, doesn't it?
    @T:
    Yes, we can't diminish its influence, I believe it to be far more powerful than we give it credit, if it controls the tides imagine what it does to our interiors?
    XO
    WWW

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  5. Shakespeare:
    "The moon shines brightly in such a night as this.
    When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, and they did make no noise, in such a night."

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  6. Aunti DisestablishmentarianSat Sep 05, 03:40:00 PM GMT-2:30

    Love love love the Harvest Moon. Often I find myself driving East at sunset. Around this time of year, with the huge Autumnal moon hovering above the city you can sense the startled wonder from the other drivers on the highway as the city and moon burst into view.

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  7. I adore that song from the Midado. The last time I heard it sung by a sweet voiced Yum-Yum it made me laugh and tear up at the same time.

    It's a lovely lunacy you have, WWW. Nothing is more alluring than a touch of warm hearted craziness

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  8. I like the moon, but am aware of no alarming tendancies other than that.

    I remember a white witch once told me that you ask a new moon for what you want in your life and ask a full moon to take all your troubles away.

    A bit 'hit and miss' in my limited experience of being desperate enough to try it!

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  9. @Anon:
    A lovely bit that. Shakespeare had it nailed.
    @Aunti:
    It has taken my breath away this season, so golden and luminous and all knowing!
    @Anne:
    Another G&S fan? I might have guessed! I find the song bittersweet, always have.
    @Laura:
    thanks for the tip, I now know what to do on those moonlit nights!
    XO
    WWW

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  10. Now, alone when reading The Moon and I I felt sure you'd like to see both this pic and haiga.

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  11. Thanks Sean, it was a lovely addendum to my post.
    XO
    WWW

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