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Momentary Halo

by Noelle Blake

art by Ruth Brior


“How rare,” they say

Heads tilted in awe

They point their cameras 

and fingers 

reach out as if to touch…

Pull back, applaud instead


For a few seconds,

with special glasses,

They leer at the moon before the Sun,

bravely overtaking

its glaring adversary

For a few seconds.


But the moon must return

to her place, where she belongs

Waiting, watching

A mere vessel for the Sun to beam

through her pores


In her brief moment of  glory

she stands proudly

dark and defiant against

the Sun’s brutal kiss 


Finally

she thinks to herself,

ignoring the pointed heat

Bearing

down on her back


How long can it last?

She begs the Sun 

for one more moment

But a rock will always pale

In the light of a blazing Star


Earth stands by

waiting for the fire

to push the moon into the margins

A stranger in the sky


Don’t worry

They’ll applaud her as she goes

And thank her for her bravery.

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