Red Moon

scarcely noted tinge of moribund intent in stealth advances to dull selene’s full aspect with penumbral shade luna’s wizened glow, its fate assured, in grim surrender—stolid umbra spreads somber cloak of death benighted orb, a wound erupts, suffused with crimson, yet artemis endures— poets’ pens stilled by mid-april’s red moon 4th Place - Red Moon Contest Click above on 'About this Poem' to learn more.

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Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 11/23/2014 9:27:00 PM

Peter, I am the type who always reads the preface in a book and so I read your information about your poem before reading it and I am glad I did. It made it so much more meaningful. I feel to honor poetry you can not rush through it, but carefully read it and then read it again to savor anything missed the first round. I found this poem fascinating!#7

Nette Onclaud

Date: 6/1/2014 8:48:00 AM

got something new,mark?.. looking forward.. huggs

Mark Peterson
Date: 6/1/2014 1:48:00 PM

Just posted a new one, Nette, for Andrea's contest. Thanks for stopping by.

Scott Thirtyseven

Date: 5/23/2014 7:59:00 AM

What an excellent read. Best of luck with the comp. All is well thanks, I've returned home to Australia, new work life is either bloody hectic, or nothing. Exciting times. Hope all is well at yours.

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/23/2014 8:42:00 AM

Thanks, Scott. Wonder where you were, having home in Australia. I did several projects there years ago, in Geelong, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. I love Australia.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/18/2014 4:45:00 PM

enjoyed this one so intelligently written and read "about this poem." So funny what you said at the end. No danger in falling asleep, my friend. This poem is succinct and clear. oh, and I see Congratulations are in order too!!

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/18/2014 9:17:00 PM

Thanks, Andrea, I appreciate your notes and commendations. Also saw that you were a BYU grad. Alas, I graduated from U of U. I think I had a beard or something.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/18/2014 4:43:00 PM

Hi, Peter, I think serene is so pretty too. I was originally going to say "sublime rest" also a word I love.

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/18/2014 9:18:00 PM

Add one more lovely word, if you like: "supernal." Never get enough of that one.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 5/16/2014 3:38:00 AM

- Mark, a fantastic good poem !! (I see it is a winning poem) - Congratulations, well deserved! - Wish you a lovely weekend. - oxox // Anne-Lise :)

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/18/2014 9:18:00 PM

Thanks so much, Anne Lise. I appreciate your taking time to read my poetry.

Jack Horne

Date: 5/11/2014 5:38:00 PM

just loved this - so glad to see it was a winner, my friend

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/18/2014 9:19:00 PM

Thanks, Jack. I hope you're doing well.

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 5/10/2014 1:52:00 PM

What a remarkable, intellectual writing style you have, Mark. I love the way you wove the astral jargon into this amazing poem. Surely a great win! Congratulations, carolyn

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/18/2014 9:20:00 PM

Much gratitude for your honorable comments, which I treasure. Celestial events trigger poetry.

Kelly Deschler

Date: 5/8/2014 1:57:00 AM

Quite a dramatic and dark poem. You wrote very well on the subject of the red moon. I really loved those last three lines. Congratulations on your win, Mark!

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/9/2014 1:56:00 AM

Kelly, I'm so glad you stopped by with a few words on my poem. Of course, it had to be dark because it was an eclipse. ;>)

Joseph May

Date: 5/7/2014 11:10:00 AM

Beautiful write Mark ...congrats on your win

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/7/2014 2:50:00 PM

Much appreciation for your remarks, Joseph. I can always count on you to notice.

Roy Jerden

Date: 5/7/2014 9:58:00 AM

Mark, your classical take is an enjoyable surprise! I thought you might go technical. Nice to read the deconstruction, too, even though I knew the references well. I wish more poets did this. Some strange word pairings are just Jabberwocky to me.

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/7/2014 4:11:00 PM

Hey, Roy. I like classical more than archaic, which is usually what I hear about this style. Thanks so much for this comment, as well as your note about word pairings. Sometimes I think I'm just dense, but maybe they are just strange. Anyway, best to you my friend.

Paul Callus

Date: 5/7/2014 9:57:00 AM

Beautiful in a mysterious way; much enjoyed. congrats on win. // paul

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/7/2014 4:11:00 PM

Thanks so much, Paul. Yes, my poems are often a mystery, to me most of all.

Shadow Hamilton

Date: 5/7/2014 9:50:00 AM

like your take Mark congrats on win hugs

Dr.Ram Mehta

Date: 5/7/2014 8:01:00 AM

Beautiful expressions on the red moon. Congrats on the win, Mark

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/7/2014 8:13:00 AM

Thanks so much, Dr. Ram. I appreciate your visit and kind remarks.

Joyce Johnson

Date: 5/6/2014 9:33:00 PM

Congratulations Mark. Great win. Love, Joyce

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/7/2014 7:43:00 AM

Joyce, thank you so much for reading my poem and commenting. Very much appreciated.

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 5/6/2014 7:15:00 PM

Vey nice vocabulary & mythic content my fav. so far a number one write in my book. Congrad's Light & Love

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/7/2014 7:45:00 AM

Debbie, what wonderful words. Heartfelt thanks.

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/7/2014 7:45:00 AM

I argued with myself over the capitalization thing. I'll capitalize next time.

Debbie Guzzi
Date: 5/6/2014 7:17:00 PM

I would capitalize the proper name of the Gods.

Karen Anglesey

Date: 5/4/2014 4:01:00 PM

Dang! This is awesome. You write brilliantly :)

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/7/2014 7:47:00 AM

Karen, much gratitude for this expletive, and your little smiley face touched my heart.

Robert Pettit

Date: 5/2/2014 12:16:00 AM

A very poetic way to describe a lunar eclipse. We just had one recently here in North America. They are fascinating to see.

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/2/2014 1:09:00 AM

Much appreciated comment Robert. I work in the public education side of astronomy for many years, so we were in the business of promoting lunar eclipses, and I've seen a few dozen of them. Never tried poetry about one before, however. We were clouded out here in WA for this eclipse.

Sandra Adams

Date: 4/30/2014 11:11:00 AM

wow...i missed the red moon ecplipse but you seemed to have captured it nicely and painted a lovely portrait for me to envision...nicely done my friend! Great write!

Mark Peterson
Date: 4/30/2014 11:51:00 AM

Thank you so much, Sandra, for this lovely ccomment. I so appreciate your visit.

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 4/30/2014 7:10:00 AM

Awesome writing, Mark. The eclipse was quite a sight that evening. Dave will have his hands full sorting through all the wonderful entries like yours. Wishing you success in the contest. Carolyn

Mark Peterson
Date: 5/4/2014 12:49:00 AM

Carolyn, thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Sorry to be so late to reply. We were clouded out, but I've seen dozens previously...always an amazing sight.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 4/28/2014 4:00:00 PM

very cryptic which is fines, as the red moon is just as mysterious.. broodingly beautiful, mark.. huggs

Mark Peterson
Date: 4/28/2014 6:58:00 PM

Thanks very much, Nette. My poems seem to be getting more obscure by the day, but I guess it's nice to be known for something. I'd hate to have someone respond and say they're 'nice.' Kind of like all the girls that turned me down in high school.

Eileen Manassian

Date: 4/28/2014 5:52:00 AM

Mark, you have challenged me with this write. So many new words for me, and I LOVE vocab! :) I should try to use more in my writes...I love the last stanza...One I an comment intelligently on...Imagery is very vivid here. WOW! I learned so much here, Mark. I looked everything up! Thanks ever so much for teaching me new words. Very captivating poem!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 4/28/2014 3:02:00 PM

Thanks ever so much! Astronomy is thrilling. My dad knows so much. I wish I knew some too, but....the stars, galaxies fascinate. I had a vivid dream once, that I was somewhere in space and the constellations were passing by me in all their glorious splendor. It's hard to explain, but oh...what beauty! :)

Mark Peterson
Date: 4/28/2014 1:23:00 PM

Thanks so much, Eileen, I'm so glad the words intrigued you. I can't really use vocabulary like this anywhere else—no one has a clue what I mean. That's why I'm so grateful for poetry, the soup and strong poets like you who help to foster such freedom of expression. Keep writing!