The Rose and the Crescent Moon

Le nouveau visage de la lune vient de paraître
pour porter le bonheur aux êtres malheureux.
–Ahmed Rassim

Walking back along the road
from the rubbish tip
Warm at last, with sweet smoke on the wind
And early sing the crickets in the grass
where another season gains a little ground

Taichi swings his arms
a crescent moon in the sky
stars of early evening
He’ll be late to bed today

Hama Taichi of the long black hair
his hair’s been going for a while
Hama Taichi of the fish docks
wears a bandana, has a ponytail

Rises every morning before the sun
Makes his way to the fish
starting and stalling
Hama Taichi of the racing motorbike
gone temperamental

Walking back home
to his loft and little kitchen
Taichi slows his steps
Rounding the corner at the bottom of the hill
Taking in the view of a trailing rose
that holds his neighbour’s fence
It’s looking fine in the streetlight
It’s the best it’s been in years

The rose and the crescent moon
on a cool night in spring
Rose and crescent moon
and all the world between

His neighbours live behind
     their lamps and shadows
Light the mark of life on a still house
A rare sight for Taichi, who should be in his bed
     sleeping for the fishes, and the styro crates,
          and the blocks of ice
Taichi, who makes a lot of noise
     on his motorbike
But he doesn’t talk much

A quiet wind
     no more than a murmur among the crickets
Lifts the shreds of old
     wind-whipped banana leaves
Up by the rubbish tip
Roses an ancient wink to boss Cupid
     inviting silence
As Venus takes her pleasure
     everywhere but here

Dark, empty rooms are the skies between the stars
Lights in living places should be warm
But from the street show flat and cold

Hama Taichi of forty years
     he’s had no luck with love
Hasn’t had much time to try
But there’s a spring wind blowing
     from the horns of the Sultan’s moon
And Taichi walks content
     with beauty on his mind
Late to bed on garbage day
Up and early to the work tomorrow

The rose and the crescent moon
a starry night in spring
Rose and crescent moon
and all the world between