The Moon Doth Shine As Bright As Day

[callmemadam]

Yesterday evening, it really did. I kept peeking out in awe and wonder at how light it was compared with the usual inky dark; the trees beyond the field were quite clear in outline. I could almost see the frost forming and there were real moon shadows.

Silver

Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy coat the white breasts peep
Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep;
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.

Walter de la Mare

This poem is often found in anthologies intended for children but I think anyone can enjoy it.

Comments

[thecatsamuel.livejournal.com]

This is one of my favourite ever poems. I think de la Mare is very underrated.

"All that's Past" is also great - won't put the whole thing but it ends

"Very old are we men;
Our dreams are tales
Told in dim Eden
By Eve's nightingales;
We wake and whisper awhile,
But, the day gone by,
Silence and sleep like fields
Of amaranth lie."

SO atmospheric. I have just seen we have 2 friends in common and added you to my friend's list. I hope that's ok?

[debodacious.livejournal.com]

I have always been very fond of de la Mare (ever since I earned 5 house points for being the first in my form to memorise The Listeners when I was 10). And it was a fab moon here too - almost like daylight. In fact the days have been so dull and grey this week that the moonlight is probably better.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

My replies are not appearing in the right order, grr.
I love The Listeners and am impressed by your house points (we never had any).
The lightness of outside was so strange, I keep thinking about it.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I think de la Mare is very underrated.

I so agree, and unfashionable. I've seen first editions of his books failing to sell on eBay. We read Peacock Pie at junior school and I never forgot it. His anthology Come Hither is lovely.

Happy to friend!