Full Moon at Sunset

Full Moon at Sunset

After the nuclear explosion,

light filtered through the clouds’ soft focus,

an exquisite, violet sky darkening to rouge at the border of the hills.

The surface of the water, grey-pink perturbed Japanese silk, folded

over and lapping at the bodies, soothed the shore with tremors.

Our buildings glowed with a sterilized resonance, a glimmer

engorged with silence, flickering like a breath, waiting,

then expelled. A sudden breeze. A jumble of boats,

those still alight on the waves, huddled at the quay,

chuckled and stammered, radiant, harmonized

and glistening. Of course, you and I

are dying, but the view,

the view!

Cate Gable