Photography © Edward S. Gault

 

As the Last Blue Moon Was Setting
September 1, 2023

Early morning, August 31st,
a 70-year-old woman had a waking dream.

The living proxy for her Elder,
she played the roles
of dead victim and funeral host,
body in the casket and eulogist,
buried bones and high priestess,
all at once.

Floating from scene to scene,
sometimes in two scenes
at the same time.

She led the procession
through the town’s narrow streets,
ascending a steep hill
to the burial ground,

Her pale silken gown and scarf
billowing in the wind.

As her gaze lifted to the sky,
she pointed both west and east
at the setting Blue Moon
and the rising Golden Sun.

Proclaiming the ground Holy,
she lay prostrate
atop the burial mound
and reached out a hand.

The Elder’s mate held out a
gold wedding band
and slid it onto her finger,
as her body sank into the dirt.

Then, she emerged from the dirt
unscathed and placed a single
red rose on the mound.

She proclaimed herself
both the giver of the rose
and the rose, itself.

Back at the funeral home,
she entered the Hall to applause
and whispered thanks
from the Elder’s loved ones

For her Bravery and her Love.

After signing the final papers
in the presence of the Elder’s mate
and guests, she stood up,
entwined her arm around that
of the Elder’s mate

and together, they glided
out of gilded Hall.

 

Jackie Oldham (she/her) is a poet/essayist from Baltimore, MD. She writes about her many interests, including family, politics, history, dreams, health, and all things Baltimore. Her blog is beginning its 9th year. You can also find her on Instagram (@baltimoreblackwoman) and Facebook (@Baltimoreblackwoman).

Edward S. Gault is a poet and fine arts photographer living in Brighton, Massachusetts. His work has appeared in Oddball Magazine, Spectrum, Wilderness House Literary Review, Interlude, Currents, and Encore.