Helen Hoyt

From “City Pastorals”

HOW many and many

Since the world began

Have sung of your beauty,

Moon!—

Since the world began.

And now tonight

We call you ours,

Saying that your beauty belongs to us,

Dreaming that only ourselves

Have known your mystery.

Sometimes,

Under the hiding of the clouds,

Do you smile,

And laugh to yourself

At these people of the earth

And their imaginings?

Oh, but do not laugh at us unkindly,

Moon!

Remember how little time we live—

And you live so long!