Pacific Moon

The Hunter’s Moon of October
rises up out of the Salish Sea.
Red-gold light orb
passing in an earth hour.
Glowing low in indigo sky of early evening,
she wears her radiant cloak of borrowed light.

Leaf Goddess who has caressed the fine veins
of every leaf, who has poured out leaf-life
that green-life: emerald and Lincoln green
lime and modest olive, mossy, dark or light
now bows to the last moon of the Goddess’s reign.

Cold fire sister, a still-day moon above the great winds
gusting down Georgia Straight, rough and sudden.
In a slow farewell to brother Sun
Hunter’s Moon rises up
into her silvery realm.
A few stars usher in her train.
Great trunks of mast-high pines
throw down their shadows
inky in the light she sheds.

Isobel Cunningham lives on the unceded territory of the Kanien'keha:ka (Mohawk) nation in the city of Montreal, Canada. Her poetry and short prose have appeared in respected literary journals in the US, UK and Canada. Her first novella, a ghost story, will be released in April, 2027.