Memories, Gazing at the Moon

Ghazal

By Susan Zegarsky

I hear my children laughing in the garden, gazing at the moon,

though years have faded away and only I remain here gazing at the moon.

I feel them close in vague dreams of summer, small ghosts,

wisps of my soul, lost but always near, gazing at the moon.

A sadder ghost, tired old father, prays for me at twilight

and for the world he lost to war, to fear, gazing at the moon.

Then she among so many shades stands beside me, near,

nearer, until there’s only her lilting song I hear gazing at the moon.

If I were ever to look at them, look away from the moon’s bright face,

they may cease to appear, gazing at the moon.

Counting the stars, tonight I will begin life all over again, no ghosts.

I will never cry another tear gazing at the moon.

But fresh tears fall, I’ve lied to myself again.

Some feelings grow more clear gazing at the moon.

Though August lingers softly, your summer is gone,

already gone, lonely old dear gazing at the moon.

August lingers softly here gazing at the moon.

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Susan is a writer and visual artist who writes fiction and poetry in French, English, and Arabic. Her writing has been featured in Santa Clara Review, Hyacinth Review, Fahmidan, The Madrigal, Quail Bell Magazine, Grim & Gilded, The Rush, Moss Puppy Magazine, Chthonic Lit, Coffin Bell Journal, The Slake, Autumn Sky, Ink in Thirds, and additional literary journals with new work always forthcoming.

She is the author of  the upcoming novel, The Vuylk, and the poetry collections Thirsty Earth and Exsanguinarium. Her work can be found on her website www.zegarsky.com where she seasonally posts daily live poetry series and she is @ouisuzette on social media.