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FULL MOON SERENADE

There's a full moon rising slow tonight
in the east behind the distant trees
flooding the world with its cool clear light
casting shifting shadows in the breeze.

Diurnal life is staying active now
throughout a night that will not know the dark.
From running deer to a still grazing cow
and gray squirrels raiding in the park.

Perhaps the glow from the spring full moon
foretells the coming of the spotted fawns
and prods coyotes to sing their sad tune
throughout the night 'til the break of dawn.

So for now let's stay on the deck outside;
we'll listen to the insect serenade
and watch the fireflies burning far and wide
while recalling all the love we've made.

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Editing stage: 

Comments

Thank you Ian.........stan

author comment

I would love to be sitting on that porch, sounds great, lol. I enjoyed this one a lot. The only thing I would say is I think it would flow better if you removed 'staying; and 'now,' from stanza 2 line 1. I also feel that in Stanza 3 maybe you could say ' the glow from the spring fullmoon,' I think it is a little more smooth.

Much love as always
Lou

Stand tall, be proud to be who you are, give the world the finger!!!!

Thank you for the read and suggestions which will be of use in edit...................stan

author comment

used 2nd suggestion, but didn't think the 1st one worked when read aloud. But keep suggestions coming as all are appreciated................stan

author comment

i think this is very lovely.

There's a full moon rising slow tonight
in the east behind the distant trees
flooding the world with its cool clear light
casting shadows shifting in the breeze

even though i know that shifting works with the 9 syllable count, it did tripped me the first time i read it....

Diurnal life is staying active now
throughout a night that won't know the dark
from running deer to a still grazing cow
gray squirrels are raiding in the park

the pace/rhythm here does not have the fluency of the first stanza, the "still" before the grazing cow is not needed i believe

Perhaps the glow from the spring full moon
signaling the birth of spotted fawns
and prods coyotes to singing their sad tune
throughout the night until the break of dawn

the signaling tripped me...i'm not sure if it should but the gerund just didn't quite work with the meter...not sure, if that's just me .

the "to singing" should be to sing?
and the last line just seems to stretch ...

So for now let's stay on the deck outside
listening to the insect serenade
and watch the fireflies burning far and wide
while recalling all the love we've made

love the last line here..good concluding stanza

overall, i thought this was good..i'm not sure about the pace in some area, but that's just me :)

Everybody seems to have a problem with L-4. I was attempting to describe how the wind makes the shadows shift. Is the fact that this is not evident a result of poor writing? I will assume so. The still before grazing is meant to emphasize how unusual cows grazing in the dark seem to protagonist.I think I'll leave this be for now.I think signaling may indeed be the wrong word in L-10 and will change it forthwith. As always I appreciate ideas and taking time to read.................scribbler

author comment

This is excellent, you capture the moments of the spring full moon with clarity and depth, with a magical quality you humanize so perfectly at the end.

A few suggestions:

2nd stanza is a bit choppy to me. The atmosphere is there, that dreamlike imagery, but the cadence is a little off, and so, a suggestion:

"Diurnal life is staying active now
throughout a night that won't know the dark
from running deer to a still grazing cow
gray squirrels are raiding in the park"

"Diurnal life is staying active
through a night that will not know the dark
from running deer to grazing cows
and gray squirrels raiding in the park"

perhaps?

Third stanza, last line, you might think about changing "until" to " 'til" and removing "the" from that line as well, it might flow more smoothly.

The last stanza...marvelous to me!

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

great minds think alike and sometimes so do ours lol. Already made 2 changes you suggest, think I'll leave "now" in place for time being and like the idea of changing won't to will not also adding and. I'm gonna git this hyar 'ritin' stuff rite one day lmao...................stan

author comment

Thank you for the kind words and suggestion. I'm still not quiet happy with this poem and will take your ideas into consideration on final edit..................stan

author comment

brain is petering badly (sadly?) so please excuse my giving an example of how the second verse might be tidied, instead of describing the thoughts. Use any part or ignore completely, it is your poem after all. I concentrated on rhythm, possibly at the expense of more important things. Now sipping on a Cognac, well I can't have whisky every night; or can I?

Diurnal life stays active now
throughout a night that knows not dark.
From running deer, still grazing cow,
gray squirrels raiding in the park.

Keith Logan
the happy chappy
https://www.neopoet.com/community-guidelines

All suggestions are always appreciated. Unfortunately this poem is already on its way to publisher.

author comment

no wonder the publisher is stunned
well donned

succinctly
yes

have to recall, just go to "my works" lol

author comment

2011 and 2017
\ I meant =to RECALL

retrieve

author comment
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