Moon Horror

Once I saw the moon

drift up as if balanced 
by invisible wings.

I saw it melt, then freeze,
lose itself like a face 
vanishing at night,

like white fire fallen to ash.

I feared this most:
this white wingless stone
drifting alone at night.

I was afraid
of what infinitely surrounded it – 

those things older 
than love and death.

(1975)

Moon Horror was originally published with a different title in Windless Orchard.