MOON OVER BRIGHTON

Strands of noctilucent filaments,
The remnants of departed day
Weave fiery-patterned lace
Across the lapis velvet dusk;
The zenith, like a palace dome
Strives starward to the cipher of Infinity;
Below, the steel-dark sea; around,
Beyond, the darkling sky
Like silken Sappho sings
In worship of the Goddess Moon,
Voluptuous in the firmament,
As silver latticed wavelets
In harmony reply.

A white-gold pearl, she waits
In fullness on the orbit's stair,
Poised on pale ethereal wings
Awhile, as twilight-bearers bring
Her palanquin of stars
To escort her
Like the gilded Queen of Sheba
Over the midnight curve of the world .......
Away and borne forever,
Onward journeying, lifted
Above the purple imponderous mountains
Of Heaven.