
The Sun and The Moon
brilliant as the sun you are / cool as the moon are you
drawing me into your orbit / moving me like the tides
singeing me with white-hot passion / salty swells pounding the strand
warm flush reducing me to ash / over the edge, swirling shards of bone
sweeping me into a smoky haze / foaming flecks of sticky wetness
though others find your face alluring / reflecting flecks of distant luster
your steadfast devotion / illuminating the darkness
greets me at dawn / filling my nights
dewy mist rising / with sweet dreams of eternity
brilliant as the sun by day / cool as the moon’s pale glow
love’s slow burn / consuming me
~kat
A Cleave Poem for this week’s Mind Love Miseries’ Menagerie Sunday Writing Prompt Challenge inspired by Pablo Neruda’s Sonnet XVI (see below).
A cleave poem is three poems in one. Read the first column top to bottom, then the second top to bottom, and finally, read each line across top to bottom.
Sonnet XVI by Pablo Neruda
I love the handful of the earth you are.
Because of its meadows, vast as a planet,
I have no other star. You are my replica
of the multiplying universe
Your wide eyes, are the only light I know
from extinguished constellations;
your skin throbs like the streak
of a meteor through rain.
Your hips were that much of the moon for me;
your deep mouth and its delights, that much sun;
your heart, fiery with its long red rays,
was that much ardent light, like honey in the shade.
So I pass across your burning form, kissing
you – compact and planetary, my dove, my globe.




October 10th, 2017 at 5:05 am
Nicely described about the sun and the moon 🙂
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October 10th, 2017 at 5:27 am
Kat! This is the phD of poetry! I love it and you’ve thrown down the gauntlet. Wow,
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October 10th, 2017 at 6:37 am
As always Kat, I am astounded by the beauty, the art, and the perfection of your poetry. Tremendous!
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October 10th, 2017 at 7:05 am
You know the Cleave is always a challenge for me Peter. Thank you for acknowledging it. I do love the form though it makes me sweat! 😊
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October 10th, 2017 at 11:44 am
Fantabulous! 😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀
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October 10th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Thank you Dorna. I like to challenge myself occasionally with a cleave poem. 😉
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October 10th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
No doubt, and your Successful Poem is still, Fabulous! 😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀
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October 10th, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Thank you! ❤️🍂🍁❤️
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October 10th, 2017 at 11:49 am
Wow – you’ve risen to the Cleave challenge in more than formidable style Kat!
You’ve totally written a response or (actually, I’m not sure what to call it) —
but your poem reads technically in 3 ways – and yet reads in many more layers and depths than this! Truly brilliant, sensual and sensuous imagery – really full and lush and luscious – I’m just sitting here and savouring. I think you’ve offered a compliment to Neruda and it is entirely within your strength and voice – just gorgeous Kat.
thanks for playing the Sunday Writing prompt this week Kat – I always look forward to your entries 🙂
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October 10th, 2017 at 11:52 am
Thank you so much. I am honored to say the very least. Neruda was a very tough act to follow. I love the prompt this week! ❤️ peace and love…kat
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October 10th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Ah, Neruda is a tough emulation – but I think you’ve completely walked through this in fine fashion – it’s filled with “meraki” – which is the Japanese word meaning, to create something with soul – well done Kat – 💗
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October 10th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
I love learning a new word. “meraki”. If not for soul, why create?! Thank you again! ❤
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October 10th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
you’re welcome 🙂 I adore “meraki” – it’s my reason for being …. 💕 to create with soul ….
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October 10th, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Me too…now I have a word for it. 😊
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