﻿A Love Story—Of the Earth and the Moon By Austin P. Torney Copyright 2012 Austin P. Torney Smashwords Edition Like the moon, challenge night and gain the light; Like the rose, suffer the thorn—gain the fragrance; Of life, surrender to live forever— Enlightened more than a thousand suns. When the moon throws its cold shadow on us From an eclipse, it shatters the place That we’ve gotten so used to. By a rare coincidence The tiny moon snuffs out our star When the sun ‘sets’—at high noon. My blood runs warm with the sun’s heat at noon. The spirit is swept by the swelling moon. Air surrounds me. The ocean flows through me. Earth’s rhythm is always playing my tune. NEW 9TH PLANET FOUND! Poor Pluto’s been banished to the underworld, Charon rowing him to the land of the forgotten. Schoolchildren petitioned for his return, But he was voted off of the solar island. Memory’s crutch for the order of the planets, Is now just “MVEMJSUN”— Old Pluto tried so darn hard, its position Now even closer to the sun than Neptune’s. Well, many have searched for quite a while for The next planet without any success— There have been hoaxes, theories, and some ghosts; Yet, I have firm proof of another planet. But, first, a review of some poor attempts: ‘Vulcan’ was spotted very close to the sun, And ‘existed’ for about five days, But now is relegated to the Star Trek World. Another ‘Vulcan’, impossible to see, Being 180 degrees away from Earth, Behind the sun, was seen in the movie ‘Journey to the Far Side of the Sun’. Could an asteroid like Eris be a planet? Nope, ‘tis not allowed, although all of the Debris between Mars and Jupiter Could have come from an unstable planet. Nice try, but it’s not out there anymore, And any planets of other solar systems Don’t count, nor does Planet Hollywood Or Daily Planet or any other restaurants. Perhaps there’s another planet way out, Beyond; that may be so, but, no matter, Though it may become the 10th planet, since I have found the newest 9th, with no doubt. The 9th planet does follow an orbit Close to Earth’s, ever falling toward the sun— It is right under our nose: It’s the moon! But, wait, you say, it is Earth’s satellite. Our moon is unique in the solar system— It’s not captured by the Earth, but by the sun, It’s orbit being everywhere concave to Sol. (Thanks to Isaac Asimov for proving this.) Never does our moon fall away from the sun, For it’s attracted to it about twice as much As it is to the Earth, although the moon and The Earth do form a double planet system That revolves about a common point that Happens to be inside of the Earth. SEA AND SKY The Caribbean evening songs tucked in The planetary paramours, As Jupiter and Venus Pulled the cover of night up and over their bed; Then sunk the crescent, Sideways into the sea, But its two horns showing. This rare sight of moon to see Sent us into ecstasy, While darkness brewed its tea. Worldly Love I am thy moon, thy constant satellite, Thy crystal paramour of day and night. Above and below, and within thy sight, I whirl around you in loving delight. In a magnetic dance I whirl and twirl, Attracted to you, the liveliest world. Around you as a necklace I’m aswirl— Wear me as thy crystalline gem impearled. Wherever thou orbits round Apollo, I must twirl and whirl, hurry and follow. Dust I gather, meteors I swallow, Ranging far and wide through space not hollow. Thy romantic beam, like Cupid’s arrow, Pierces my heart and kills my sorrow, Injecting life and love, for tomorrow; Henceforth, I’ll shine with this light I borrow. Around you I whirl, a necklace of pearl, Trailing afterimages of my world, Adorning you, thy bosom bountiful, With crystalline gems from another world. As twin planets, our orbits must convolve; Into each our tidal motions dissolve. Around a common center we revolve— The focus from which our passions evolve. As twin planets, each other’s way we pave, With the push-pulse of the graviton wave. We’re captured, but not as each other’s slave, For to the sun our orbits are concave. To your lines of flux my path I align— I’m your constant paramour, crystalline. Your world pours life on mine, on mine! Dearest Earth, I must be thine, must be thine! A magnetic beam emanates from thee, Attracting me, holding me, kissing me. Tidal love washes freely over me, Linking you and me for eternity. Basking warmly in your reflected light, I’m bright, oh so radiant in your sight! In the love and light of your spirit bright, I need not ever face the endless night. Your vibrations travel without a sound, Circling from all directions to surround. This affection touches me, ’round and ’round, And closely binds me to you—I’m love-bound! We’re as different as midnight and noon, Yet drawn close by the force of Earth and moon. As lovers, we merge in a sweet eclipse, When world meets world as a kiss on our lips. Oh, as your shadow of love covers me, I am full, so full in the shade of thee. When we overlap, that union is us The you is in me, the me is in thee! As moon and Earth we bathe in radiance, Cleansing our hearts in love’s grand alliance. Round and round each other we dance, entranced, Revolving in the whirl of our dalliance. ###