Moon Thoughts

Wang Gungwu


The moon, impure as ever, like tea-leaves,
Coffee dregs, on a cup of cream, cleaves
On to drooping leaves of rubber trees,
Scatters bright thieves to steal the keys
That open to mem’ries of home.

Distracted, home seems distant, fades
Into the light of nascent night, the same
That shone on ancient heroes born.
Thought loiters among glorious shades,
And martyrs and lovers, alike they came,
Welcome as dewdrops on to the evening lawn;
How they embalm the thought-cells,
How they sweeten the deepest depths of mind’s own dells.

The Truly Great adorn these green arcades,
Marble images, idols, now but shadows,
Spectre-like in the moonlit glades
Have-beens; the night returns, but their lives
Come no more.
Think no more, home appears nearer;
The moon, impure as ever, becomes clearer.

One thought on “Moon Thoughts”

  1. The poem is well-constructed. I like it. It struck my interest as I am also a type of person who find it hard to sleep at night and so I often spend my evening contemplating anything. You know, just to inhale the essence of life. To reminisce my past, to think of my future, anything i wish to ponder.
    well, i actually don’t get the message of the poem, have i? i’d like to knowabout it. That is ifthre is someone who has a kind heart to tell me what this poem talks about. u see, i always find it hard to interpret poems. thatsmy biggest problem.
    help me, people!

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