Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Howling at the Moon



     We sat outside on our deck in the cricket darkness on Sunday evening watching the earth eclipse the moon. I have experienced a solar eclipse and several lunar eclipses in the past, but I had never seen a blood moon. I admit I was expecting something less in the citrus, fall gourd and bad tanner spectrum of color and more in the grisly murder or gloom and doom spectrum.

     Even so, I was not disappointed. Though I understand the physical science of an eclipse and do not believe in its auguries, it always infects me with a sense of its mystique. There is something elemental in the movement of the spheres that lifts it beyond science.

     And I know that I am not the only one who feels it. Just as the veil of earth's shadow dropped over the last splinter of light at the edge of the moon, in a distant corner of our neighborhood, a coyote lifted its face to the sky and howled; a long, haunting note that overwhelmed its wary blood and burst from its throat like a cry of hunger. The coyote howled again and again. Then, here and there, a dog barked in response; whether in sympathy or warning, I do not know. And, mad woman that I am, I howled back because it seemed the appropriate thing to do.

     Sitting in quiet communion beside me, unruffled and even amused by my occasional quirks, my husband reminded me that there was a baby sleeping in the house next door.

7 comments:

  1. lol! I read this a few times esp. reveling in the 'cricket darkness'. and then breaking out in goose-bumps, before erupting in laughter:))

    We started watching the eclipse until cloud-cover ended the excitement. It was disappointing:(

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    1. This time of year, when the mosquitoes are dwindling yet the crickets are still plenteous, is my favorite time to sit on my deck and listen to the music of the night.

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  2. I don't believe in its auguries either but do love to think about the old names for each month's full moon. I was amazed the first time after I read that April is the Pink Moon and found it actually did look pink.

    You howling with the neighborhood canines, that's a good one!

    I took your recommendation of the Flavia de Luce mysteries and just put the first three of the series in my wish list!

    Dewena

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    1. I am just beginning to read the third book myself. What hours of amusement await us both.

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  3. Ha, ha! Love it that you howled with the coyote and dogs! You must be a truly free spirit :)

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    1. Perhaps not as free as it appears; I don't believe I would have cut loose if I had not been surrounded by the anonymity of darkness. Even so, pretty bold for an introvert.

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  4. Hilarious! Can imagine your "husband"!

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