On this night of crickets and cicadas
We are watching the ragged edge of the moon
She is drying her tears in the mist that covers her face
I raise my glass in sympathy
pour another deep, red wine from Spain
We are grateful today there has been no rain
after weeks of drenching downpours
The moon’s kerchief is blowing away
but no storm brews over the mountain
We raise our glasses again, cut wedges
of thick cheese and bread
Celebrate one more dry day
before we fall, full and fat
into our cool, moonlit bed
Alice Pero’s book, “Thawed Stars”, was praised by Kenneth Koch as having “clarity and surprises.” Her poems have been published in anthologies: Wide Awake, Coiled Serpent, We Are Here, Altadena Poetry Review and many magazines. She is the 10th Poet Laureate Sunland/Tujunga and curates the Village Poets reading series.
