The Man In the Moon

The Man In The Moon 

Follow the crooked path 
     through a frosted gate
And hide in the shadows, 
     where the streets are straight,
Look for me in a doorway, 
     it's there that I will wait, 
Marooned in the same darkness
     that will, one day, be my fate. 

Imagine a light shimmering 
     and distant voices muttering
As I carve the brick built skies 
     with flimsy silver guttering,
And there I am, a halo'd face 
     upon a heart, a fluttering, 
Imbetween the chimney stacks, 
     gasping, choking, spluttering.

I am the mumblings of a lunatic 
     forgetting what to recall, 
Memories of you distorting
     despite the thrill of it all, 
I am lost among the shadows 
     that are holding up the wall 
So I'll pause for a moment 
     to let another empty bottle fall.

As it rolls down the sober kerb
     like an eerie, muffled scream,
I hear my own hollow footsteps 
     echoing in a dream,
I am the man in the moon 
     and upon your eyes I beam, 
Lighting up discarded wishes 
     just to watch your essence gleam. 

Appearing and disappearing 
     in the windows and in puddles 
Where all my loves once gathered 
     in their cruel and taunting huddles.
Where I am often found confused 
     in a myriad of muddles
Suffocating, like an unwanted child 
     in a world of loveless cuddles. 

My eyes will still shine as bright 
     as a winter's fearful stare, 
Reflecting in my melancholy 
     as if I wasn't there,
Not wanting to embarrass you 
    nor indeed, do I mean to scare,
Just to blind you with my love 
     if I could only dare. 

Yet my icy breath is hesitant, 
     the dawn has come too soon,
To whisper to you sweet-nothings 
     or to catch you if you swoon, 
And there you are, such beauty, 
     in your summer bridal cocoon 
Never to love, nor know my name, 
     I am only the man in the moon. 

© RJVHorton2015
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Merryman Avatar
December 9, 2015 at 11:30 PM
A most excellent write, Robert! A well written poem filled with exceptional creative language and imagery! I like it! Love, Kim
Jones Avatar
December 9, 2015 at 10:57 PM
Outstanding poem and writing...glad I stopped by...had to...Horton is a family name of mine...hundreds of us...be well
Bickerstaffe Avatar
December 9, 2015 at 9:56 AM
MAGNIFICENT Robert! It's hard to choose which verse to make special mention of... so I'll choose 'em all! Superb language, rhyme and flow. Best wishes, Keith
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