Moon Woman

The woman's thighs hug the horse's sides, making the saddle leather creak. Warm breasts press hard against the other rider's back. He shudders, feeling their heat burn through his cloak. Flying hair tangles with silver mane as boot heels drive their mount forward. A skull hangs from its pale neck, open mouth whistling, empty sockets shooting sparks of flame. “Hurry!” the woman urges. Hooves clatter along the forest path, shafts of moonlight glowing like lanterns, lighting the way to the trysting place. Bodies tumble, entangle among soft leaves and shadow, pale skin crushing paler skin. The sound of hot breath cuts through insect hum. Moonlight fades. The ghost-horse snorts and trembles. “I must go!” the woman whispers. “Not yet! Too soon!” the man pleads. But warm flesh cools under clinging hands, becomes transparent. Twigs of dry leaves replace the hot pulsing of blue veins. Galloping toward the vanishing beams, the nebulous forms of woman and horse bathe in the dying glow, as molecules and cells dissolve into particles of light. The man rises naked and shivering, reaching out a hand still fragrant with the mingled scents of skin, hair and earth. Gathering cloak and boots, he dresses against the dawn's chill, desire still palpable, but unfulfilled. The forest breathes in and out like a great bellows, filling in the still-warm outline of bodies with bits of earth and bone, waiting for the next lunar cycle that will bring back the Moon Woman, transforming light into flesh that flames up quickly and then burns out.

What did you like or not like? What could be improved?

Reviews

• 
  Goin 2 Ashes
  March 17, 2008
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  Exciting, and steamy

  Technically this is a tight and rhythmically well-written poem.
  The story reminds me of the King Arthur stories.
  Very romantic. Strange, how I relate the lunar cycle to
  nature's femine time of the month. Did you project that or is it just me?
  Anyway. Great write
  
  Rich

  
• 
  William McGarvey
  March 20, 2008
  
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  Gripping

  Very smooth and entrancing poem. Very impressive writing, Dannan. There seems to be a double meaning here. A story about a brief encounter of two lovers in the forest on a moonlit night and all the passion that goes along with that. But there seems to be another meaning here, almost Pagan like. Full moon the “Moon Woman” or the Goddess interacting with the God or male maybe represented as the Sun (hints of this in the last stanza) and the endless cycle of things.
  
  Found this to be a very intriguing poem. Maybe I misinterpreted this one completely (wouldn’t be the first time!) But this is what I got out of it and I really liked the flow of your writing and the background pic is a great touch.
  
  Bill
  

  
• 
  Riveralex
  March 29, 2008
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  I loved this...

  ...particularly the sense of the insubstantiality of matter and mind here: of the moonlight, of passion, of the passing of time, of the waxing and waning of longing and the moon. I like erotic material that reaches beyond the obvious, which I think this piece does very elegantly. Super, I look forward to its sequel.

  . Rewarded 6
• 
  Windhover
  March 30, 2008
  
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  A lovely veil

  The invocation of the supernatural to veil the erotic content of this is elegantly done, to great effect. It is very physical, sensuous and imageful, but the boundaries of physical being are mystically blurred by the concept of the 'moon woman' which you so easily and seamlessly draw us into. I have no suggestions for improving it, I simply want to commend you on it and say I too look forward to the sequel. >W<

  . Rewarded 8
• oxymoron270
  May 30
  
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  This poem is amazing. You write so well. Your language is very descriptive and your concept is good. I like this a lot. It was fun to read. Nice job.