Marilyn Singer is the author of more than one hundred children’s books, including many poetry collections. Her works have won numerous honors, including the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor and the Orbis Pictus Honor. A Full Moon is Rising is a collection of poems that bring readers on a whirlwind tour of the world to discover an amazing collection of full moon celebrations, beliefs, customs, and facts. You can find out more about Marilyn Singer and her work on her website here.
Since April is National Poetry Month, we asked author Marilyn Singer to tell us a little bit more about what inspired her to write A Full Moon is Rising:
I’ve always been entranced by the moon—especially when it’s full. In NYC, where I live, it can sometimes be hard to see because of the tall buildings. But one night in Midtown Manhattan (and many times thereafter), I saw it peeking out between two skyscrapers. I’m a big theatre-goer, and I had the image of that moon being an actor who’d been waiting to make a grand appearance. That inspired “Broadway Moon” and “Broadway Moon Again,” the opening and closing poems of A Full Moon is Rising.
A “Broadway Moon” over New York City
“Broadway Moon”
New York City, USA
It waits behind skyscrapers,
a brilliant actor in the wings,
ready for its monthly debut.
On the sidewalk, an audience of one
watches and silently applauds
when it grandly appears.
—
“Broadway Moon Again”
New York City, USA
On the sidewalk, the audience of one
is now ten.
“What you looking at, girl?” they ask.
“Oh, the moon,” she says. “Just the moon.”
But what a moon!
Between the skyscrapers, it takes a bow.
“Encore in one month!” it proclaims.
“Admission is always free.”
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