A Ribbon of Moonlight
"The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees, The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,...
I memorized the words of Alfred Noyes "The Highwayman when I was in my early teens, not because of the romance of the poem but because of the images that filled my mind inspired by the words from these first two lines.
Tonight the wind gallops above the trees. Its own song nearly blotting out the intermitent calls of the katydid. Clouds hurry now ahead of the wind, racing across the face of that ghostly moon.
posted by Endment at 10:51 PM
17 Comments:
What an ominous and beautiful photograph...and words. :)
I loved the poem "The Highwayman" as a kid--"the moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas."
I fear I did love it for its over-wrought romanticism--perfect for a preteen girl--plaiting a dark red love knot in her hair.
your posts are a joy to read, as well as see. twenty-five years ago, i took a book of poetry to work and during lunch break a half-dozen employees in their 60s stood in a semi-circle around me and quoted most of the poems in the book in harmony. i was amazed. none of them went to the same school, but said poetry was a very important part of their learning. their favorite was the rime of the ancient mariner by samuel taylor coleridge. thanks for sharing memories of your early teens.
Beautiful and eerie, just in time for Halloween!
Endment, it is so good to have you back. What an eerie photo. I'm going to look for this poem right away.
lene
I did not realize it was ominous but now that i look again - guess you are right
kgmom
ok - guess the romance was part of it but I didn't much like the ending.
david in maine
thanks for the encouragement. I miss being around people who will spontaneously break out in poetry :)
pam
the sky has been truly fantastic the past few nights
claude
thanks for your comment here is a link The Highwayman
On nights such as the one you've captured in your photo and words - it is difficult to pull myself away from the window. I tried to take a video from my bedroom window this summer. It was so hypnotic I nearly lost my balance. Hmmmm. It must be a moon thing.
Beautiful shot of the moon!!~And I love the poem! My first visit to your wonderful site, Look forward to visiting again! I see you have a link to John Muir ~ one of my favorite's, I am a huge fan of his quote's!!
Nice meeting you!
Cat
oh how i love to read your posts and see the images you share. it is all beautiful to see. such an idyllic life there, it seems. perfect for getting lost in nature!
it is wonderful having you back. i just posted my first post in over a year. keeping my fingers crossed that blogger will cooperate. another friend is having the same issues we did.
I've taken moon pictures many times - but never one quite as beautiful as this one. Last night, driving home, I came around a corner to see that gorgeous moon just an inch above the horizon. It took my breath away and I exclaimed out loud 'tho I was alone in my car.
An incredibly beautiful shot to illustrate that passage with...
nice one - thanks for visting my blog - yours looks very interesting so I'll add you to my links later and come again.
My mother in law has also memorised that poem and thrills her grandchildren with its rendition - sends shivers! Great post!
Just checking in and saying hi.
The Highwayman is still my fav. poem. :-)
Cyn
I have always loved the Highwayman. Those words are stirring, and a bit haunting. Wonderful photo of the moon!
I remember as a child my father always told the highwayman, he turn down the lights and put a torch under his chin, it was his favorite thing and he told every year.
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