04-24-2026, 05:24 AM
To the Moon
I've said good night to everyone:
family, friends, and neighbors
who deliver mail, drive buses, pick up trash
and go for morning walks; everyone
whose living went unsaid, who's living now,
gone and to be born; everyone close
to the talahib and cascochas.
I've said good night to the animals,
the red-faced ducks waddling together,
the dogs the neighbors take on evening walks,
the cats watching from beneath parked cars;
and I’ve said good night to the plants
(you can't forget the plants!).
I hope to see you tomorrow morning.
I hope the coos of mourning doves
can be my goodbye as you fade again
into brightening blue over dewslick grass
if I'm not awake yet. One day
I'll be a ghost and get to follow you
into the stars, because I heard
you're slowly leaving us. For tonight
and all the other nights, you're the one
who follows me, watchful as I sleep.
I've said good night to no one
until I say good night to you.
Good night, fair moon, good night!
I've said good night to everyone:
family, friends, and neighbors
who deliver mail, drive buses, pick up trash
and go for morning walks; everyone
whose living went unsaid, who's living now,
gone and to be born; everyone close
to the talahib and cascochas.
I've said good night to the animals,
the red-faced ducks waddling together,
the dogs the neighbors take on evening walks,
the cats watching from beneath parked cars;
and I’ve said good night to the plants
(you can't forget the plants!).
I hope to see you tomorrow morning.
I hope the coos of mourning doves
can be my goodbye as you fade again
into brightening blue over dewslick grass
if I'm not awake yet. One day
I'll be a ghost and get to follow you
into the stars, because I heard
you're slowly leaving us. For tonight
and all the other nights, you're the one
who follows me, watchful as I sleep.
I've said good night to no one
until I say good night to you.
Good night, fair moon, good night!



