………………………………………………………….Tarsila do Amaral (Brazil, 1928)

Since you last crossed the still, moonlit waters
Waters grown moody for the fainting dawn
Dawn advancing but for the last starlight
Starlight gifts of spellbound magic for two
Two, we knew, both full with reflected moods
Moods long-expressed in your rhythmic cycles
Cycles of your full light, waning for rest
Rest like a new moon to relight our flame
Flame of your crescent hung to leave hearts full
Full moon, I was drawn to your drifting charm
Charm found in your safe and secret refuge
Refuge, never forgotten, for lost words
Words of our torrid song under clear skies
Skies laced with wishes for our benefit
Benefit of moonlight’s radiant life
Life that justified my lathered pursuit
Pursuit for the sake of your touch survived
Survived like Aphrodite’s Adonis
Adonis who knew such parting heartache
Heartache ascribed to our reluctant flight
Flight found in your gibbous light reflected
Reflected in nights of your vaulted spells

Kenneth Boyd, multiple award-winner and former jazz musician, is a neurodivergent poet with poetry published in Wayfarer, Unlost Journal, Flora Fiction, and elsewhere. His collection, Grasshopper Dreams, was published in 2023. He is a graduate of the UCLAx Creative Writing Program. He enjoys fine jazz and fine porkpie hats for roaming about in the Northeast Florida Habitat. He can be found on social media at @BardoPoetry.