PHASES

PHASES

High through the sky
Forever I fly,
Cries the white moon,
Sighing her tune.

When I am new,
I'm hiding from you;
Like a seed's birth,
Lying in earth.

My waxing means growing;
So comes my first sign:
Curved slice of shine;
Thin, crescent moon's glowing.

First quarter means
Half my face shows;
White are my beams,
A half circle glows.

Then night after night,
I grow and I grow,
Shining my light
On dark earth below.

Ascending the sky,
I shine through the leaves;
Gliding on high,
I shine on the trees.

Sparkling on waves,
I ride through the sky;
I shine into caves
Where wild, the winds sigh.

At more than half bright;
As gibbous I'm known;
Strong is my light,
The night is my own.

And when I grow round
Then full is my face;
I shine all around
And light every place.

I gleam on night's dew
With pale, silver light;
I light the dark view,
Shining full-bright.

Then waning my light
Is dying away;
As night after night,
I glide on my way.

The last quarter means
My shine is half gone;
Still bright are my beams
As I keep shining on.

Until I remain
Only sickle of shine;
A crescent again,
Fading with time.

Till every last ray
Is gone from your sight;
I'm hidden away,
Concealed in the night.

Once more I'll grow
Just like a smile;
New crescent's glow,
Westward awhile.

Yes, I'll grow once more,
That is quite sure-
Twenty-eight are the days
Of my changing phase.

High through the sky,
Forever I fly,
Cries the white moon,
Sighing her tune.