For Fear of Forgetting - John Muro

The moon’s been a faithless 

companion tonight, having 

joined me as day darkened 

near a soft tangle of yews,

moments before its nimble 

climb through a grove of 

cedars and its vanishing

above the top-most branches 

of a navigable wood whose 

limbs have left pieces of 

themselves strewn beneath 

broken benches and lamp-

posts to rise and fall in 

agitated scatter and noting 

how the sound of dry leaves 

dancing upon stone gave 

voice and form to wind 

even as the night drew on 

and I considered how I 

had misplaced so much 

in my life and asking all 

that I had lost or abandoned 

for forgiveness then resuming 

my search for a misshapen 

moon’s whereabouts while 

wondering just how much 

of this day’s ending a stately 

morning might allow me to recall.

Bio: A resident of Connecticut, John Muro has authored two volumes of poems – In the Lilac Hour and Pastoral Suite – in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Both volumes were published by Antrim House, and both are available on Amazon and elsewhere. He is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize, a nominee for the Best of the Net and, more recently, a 2023 Grantchester Award recipient. John’s poems have appeared in numerous literary journals, including Acumen, Barnstorm, Delmarva, Grey Sparrow, New Square, Sky Island and the Valparaiso Review.

Commentary: This poem is a direct hit at what ageing brings and the dread associated with it. The beautiful description of the setting adds to the delivery of the piece.