Late in the night I lay on my bed's fold
My mind was dim and the room bitter cold
Idly I bent, rolled the window shutters
And from deep space bluish and perverse
A full large moon turned to me its chin
A sea of white light gently poured in
Our eyes met! In dull surprise we stared
Unsmiling and sober, as hermits we squared
Alone in space - dark, vast, and blind
The resolute moon didn't seem to mind
Stuck to a wall by a nail both unseen
Yet its motion seemed steady and keen
Floating in that sea - ancient and cold
The bright moon did not shiver or fold
Its lips were a shadow and mouth was
stern
But it said not a word of scorn or derision
I lay there my mind convulsed and low
The moon edged up slowly big in my window
Suddenly it smiled - faint but reassuring
Its light put me to sleep, soft and soothing
Abhay
B. Joshi