New Shisan : October's Moon
Dedicated to the memory of William J. Higginson

Side 1

October's moon—
the clear light cast on stones
strewn here and there

soundless the sound
of willow leaves falling

from my stoop
a pint of skimmed
and one of Jersey too

Side 2

greedily her infant
suckles at her breast

we rehearse
Cleo and the asp
floating on the Nile

dam it all
10 billion megawatts!

Side 3

after the party
your smiles demure
behind a painted fan

her icy breath
portends the snow to come

soon the rhino...
does He grieve the undoing
of day five?

Side 4

all shadows disappearing
come high noon

a shallow plow
slowly up and down
the Connemara hills

sugared plum blossom
adorn our fairy cakes

Composed during northern autumn / southern spring 2007, by Norman Darlington (Ireland) and Moira Richards (South Africa). Verse selection consensual. Individual verses not attributed.