To the Watery Moon

The Moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done —
“It’s very rude of him,” she said,
“To come and spoil the fun.”
Lewis Carroll: from Alice Through the Looking Glass

Remember
Remember
In this world
Wherever you are
Whatever you do
By the sea
Up a gum tree
In Brighton
Hove
Or Spain
Remember
You cannot 
Think about water
Unless…
You think
About the moon

Every molecule of water
On this earth
From a thimble-full
To a great ocean
Any body of water
Any body
Yours, mine,
The bloke next door
Any woman
Man
Or child
Animal
Plant
Plankton
Is affected
By the gravity
Of the moon…

We are all lunatics

Invisibly
Surreptitiously
Gently 
Lovingly
Hormonally
She affects us
And changes us
Yet we rarely think of her
Unless we brutally explore her
Or pay innocent homage
To romance
In June
Under a full moon

Her breath-taking beauty
Lights up the sea 
Whispering watery words
Invitations to poets
Proffering mysterious illumination
To nocturnal beasties

She is the Queen of the Night
And we bow to her
With love and gratitude