The sun has fired up the moon this morning,
so much there’s steam rising from its Sea of Rain
or so it appears there to the east, above the harbor
between Saturn and Mars — not to forget our place
its ten degrees high, just right of the circlet of Pisces
where Aphrodite and Eros tether together forever
a thunderous moment — for gods and humans alike
all of us illuminated and roaring through space
the birds are well aware and in a raucous
a predawn cacophony of sound and sacrament
a chorus of gulls calls out from the shore,
a crow offers its blessing, the doves in mournful prayer
grieve the silence before it ends
the day quickly writhing and rising to meet us
— Jen Payne
