Dog-Starred Moon

[Cybermancer]

Those who have read the Rime of the Ancient Mariner are no doubt familar with these two stanza's.

We listened and looked sideways up!
Fear at my heart, as at a cup,
My life-blood seemed to sip!
The stars were dim, and thick the night,
The steersman's face by his lamp gleamed white;
From the sails the dew did drip--
Till clomb above the eastern bar
The horn'ed Moon, with one bright star
Within the nether tip.

One after one, by the star-dogged Moon,
Too quick for groan or sigh,
Each turned his face with a ghastly pang,
And cursed me with his eye.

Discussed in the above stanza's is the fact that a star can be seen in the area of the moon currently shadowed by the earth. Even in antiquity, it was known that the moon was a solid disc and that stars could not be seen in that part of the sky.

It's mention in this poem is one of many clues that the events of the poem are supernatural in their nature. They are impossible events that the author knows can never happen.

Today we live in an age of the Dog-Starred Moon.
And before some wise-ass points it out, I am fully aware that the picture shows the International Space Station, not an actual star.

[Hannah]

Seems as though I've lived my life on the bad side of the moon.


Interesting picture.

[Grace]

Child, you haven't lived until you've seen The Moon over Bourbon St.

Someday I have got to take you to the Big Easy.

[Natasha]

That's not the Earth's shadow as well.

[Cybermancer]

That's not the Earth's shadow as well.

So completely not the point.

[Natasha]

Oh. What is the point?

[Cybermancer]

A discussion of literary supernatural refences to the moon. As well as an observation that what was once thought impossible and supernatural is now possible by entirely understood means. And finally a reference that extraordinary occurances are a part of our modern world and yet we consider it mundane.

The differences between the night/day cycle of the moon (what is shown in the picture) and a lunar eclipse (where the earth's shadow cover's the surface of the moon) really isn't relevant. Because it's not really a discussion about celestial events.

But yes, I mis-spoke, it's not the earths shadow and I'm aware of that. I'm just not terribly concerned about it in this case. I'm far more concerned about lunar metaphors and the supernatural connection as it appears in our media. The first three posts of this thread reflect that to varying degrees.

[Natasha]

Ah, ok.

[Cybermancer]

I wonder if perhaps you didn't already suspect and have been merely teasing me.

[Natasha]

I wish.

Apparently I totally misread what you were talking about.

[Cybermancer]

Aw, now I feel bad.

How've you been, anyway? I'm still at the resort for the moment but I've closed the deal on a property and am having it rennovated to may tastes. I figure I should have a more permanent residence to stay at.

[Natasha]

I'm busy and there's nothing to feel bad about. It's my English and sometimes I'm distracted at work while participating here.

I hope the property turns out to be everything you want it to be.

[Gallahan]

Here's a neat thing...

The moon, the moon...
Crescent over distant dunes.
In the remnant sky
We find its gaze,
In the ancient texts
We see it razed.

The moon, the moon...
Vaulted with forgotten runes.
Like a shattered eye
We shy its stare,
In modern days
We believe it bare.

The moon, the moon...
Lighted by propoganda fumes.
We were there, long ago
Some cannot share
Its tarnished glow.
We do not believe the lies.

The moon, the moon...
Lo... you are there.
One day, we will embrace
Our distant past...
Again.