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Volume 2, No. 6

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Moon Children

When my grandmother Katherine
blew into my ear     a secret
"you and I are moon children . . ."

it was a surprise since
she wasn't a child at all,
but the oldest person I knew.
I stood, watching her
her arms, reaching up to
pin the corners of
her bedroom sheets on the line
stretched across the backyard,
a milky way of pillow cases
and cotton towels.

the moon wasn't convincing
either     cold and removed
who would be her child
so sullen, so moody.

There was no comfort there.

Now that my grandmother
is gone, I find her in odd places,
small, like the pit of a cherry;
cocooned in the creases
of my palm.    And the moon too
has become a warm place
caught in the folds of kitchen
towels left out on the counter
to dry. There are children
somewhere who gaze
into deep places whose back yards
hold onto the ghosts of
ancient grandmothers.

Blow into their ears    listen to
their secrets. They know who they are.
Moon children.

Kathi Appelt 4/21/03

My grandmother and I were both born in July. Like her, my zodiac sign was Cancer, which made us "moon children." I actually loved this shared bond, especially since no one else in our family could lay claim to it. My grandmother also enjoyed hanging her linens on the line to dry. If it wasn't raining, she ran a load of wash and hung it up even though she had a clothes dryer. She preferred the line in the backyard. It's these small things that make a person noticeable. Yes, my grandmother did many great things in her life, but what I loved most about her were the fresh sheets and the kitchen towels that smelled like the sun.

1. What is your zodiac sign? Do you share it with someone you know? My birthday is the same as President Bush's. I wonder if he and I have anything in common other than that? My son Cooper's birthday is the same as Steven King's. Hmmm . . . Write a poem about a shared zodiac sign. Or, just write a poem that includes your zodiac sign--what are the traits that you're supposed to have? Do you? Or, are you "opposite" of what your zodiac sign is supposed to represent? Write about that.

2. Write "horoscope poems" that either predict the future or describe your nature.

3. Everyday chores are often overlooked as a great source for stories and poems. Is there a chore that you're responsible for? Do you secretly enjoy it even though you might complain? Is there satisfaction in getting that chore done? Or is it just a big bother? Write about that chore.

4. I'm fairly certain that my grandmother's ghost probably roams her old backyard. Do you have ghosts in your backyard? Angels? Just what can you find in your backyard? Write about it.

Happy Writing!
Kathi Appelt

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