Moonlight Musings

Poetry by Justin Rosenthal, Photography by A. Wing

Mutuality

I crave that indispensable, irreplaceable warmth,

those sleepless nights of secrets beneath the stars.

Nothing will matter but us and the accelerated beatings of our hearts,

fragments of words and confessions spilling out of our mouths,

finally free from a lifetime of confinement.

As the sun begins to inevitably rise,

I’ll realize that he thinks about me

the same way I think about him.

And, basking in the sunlight,

I’ll release a breath I was holding onto for far too long

and embrace the ineffable sensation of requital.

Living in the Midst

In the midst of this cold, merciless world,

I still haven’t done enough living.

Even when the skies are crashing down on me

the stabs of a thousand daggers piercing my soul,

I can’t let my story end here.

The possibilities of the future are daunting,

but I’m foolish and will take my chances,

a reckless gambler with one last dollar to spend.

It’s funny how one can cry and yet still be happy,

an overwhelming flurry of emotions fluttering inside.

And yet, I can’t prevent these translucent tears

from falling out of my glassy eyes,

a stream of raw feeling,

a reminder that I’m still breathing.

I don’t know why I am so euphoric,

why I am unable to stop smiling.

I’m simply happy,

in the midst of light and dark.

Phenomena

The grass tickles my neck as I watch

the pink, swirling clouds,

the orange glow of nightfall,

the glistening stars as the emerge,

all beckoning me.

Why is it that I’m stuck here,

on the ground,

wanting to stretch my wings out

and fly?

How easy it is to forget that I’m human,

mortal,

alive.

One day I’ll resist the pull of gravity

and soar,

but for now, I can simply watch

and dream.

Home

Those caliginous nights driving home on the freeway,

a melancholic tune playing on the radio,

dim, fluorescent streetlights battle against the starless skies.

The moon hiding behind towering evergreens,

you yawn and think about how you would give anything

to be back home.

At last, you pull into the garage,

stumble into the house,

and nearly collapse onto your bed,

melting into the soft, cozy blanket of your childhood.

As you begin to drift off,

you can’t help but sleepily smile

and think about how there really is

no place like home.