Ode to an imperfect moon

You may know by now my fascination with the full moon. The waning (shrinking) gibbous moon starts just after the full moon. Waning means getting smaller, while gibbous refers to its shape, which is less than the whole circle of a full moon, but having the illuminated part larger than a semicircle third quarter moon. I normally ignore this moon phase. So I grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled my thoughts at that moment.

Ode to a Waning Gibbous Moon

Look at you in wonder tonight
A fading moon that’s not as bright
Have I ignored you all this time?
Smitten by the full moon sublime.

I grabbed my camera, yet hesitated
For every full moon have I waited
Obsessed with rounded perfection
Dazzled by complete illumination.

Seemingly flawed at this phase though
Waning, shrinking, shadows, soft glow
I see pockmarks, craters, imperfections
An ancient wonder in new dimensions.

After the full moon, there you are
Solitary, stunning, scar after scar
Your beauty beckons, what mystery
Shadowed and aging, the more I see.

My life is fleeting on this earth,
Attached to you ever since birth
Eluded by the man on the moon,
You are still magic, I’ll see you soon.