Mark J. Mitchell

MOONLIGHT

An Imitation of Fernando Villalón

You own this evening:
Joining your light with light
like music of bells
falling through moonlight.

Roosters never crow here.
The city is too bright
with cars driving fast
ignorant of moonlight.

So, so and so, it’s past twelve.
The table’s clear, no bite
is left unless you’re willing
to eat this moonlight.

Clap, slap, clap your tiny hands.
Make a speech out of night,
give a gift of finger blossoms
thrown towards moonlight.

Ah and so, see how they look!
Your cloud of a blouse,
your legs, your breasts so bright
they guide sailors through rocks
on this ocean of moonlight.

Mark J. Mitchell studied writing and medieval literature at the University of California at Santa Cruz with Raymond Carver, George Hitchcock, Barbara Hull and Robert M. Durling. He has published over one thousand poems in various periodicals over the years. Several full-length collections of his poems have been released and his most recent novel is A Book of Lost Songs, published by Histria Books. Recently he has been nominated for a Best of the Web Award, The Best Spiritual Writing 2025 and a Pushcart Prize.