The Full Worm Moon of Early March

Some set designer must have commandeered a circular saw to cut a hole in the midnight sky and maneuver a klieg light through the star-studded blackness. I blink at the unexpected brightness. The stream of light focuses on my unprepared face. My unprepared lips form a rounded shape and a long “oh” escapes my unrehearsed mouth. My astigmatic eyes blur the edges of the light so that fine lines of a diamond-shaped corona transform the brilliant moon. It is a religious icon floating above. A gem more powerful than any I have beheld, it pulls the earth and my spirit to new elevations. For a long moment, I am transfixed and believe in miracles and celestial influences. I take in a long deep breath of the cool night air and charmed moonbeams. Then I turn my back to return through the service entrance of my apartment house. The magic vanishes. I become just another extra leaving the theater via the backstage door. As dawn approaches, the set will be taken down.

M.Hoffer

March 2020