Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Full Moon" by Robert Earl Hayden addresses the changing perceptions and roles of the moon across history and culture. The poem captures the transition of the moon from a celestial object steeped in myth, religion, and everyday human lore to a target for scientific exploration and, ominously, militarization.

The poem begins with the moon "No longer throne of a goddess to whom we pray," alluding to the classical images of lunar deities like Artemis or Diana. Similarly, the "bubble house of childhood's tumbling Mother Goose man" evokes simpler times when the moon was associated with nursery rhymes and innocent fantasies. These initial lines hint at a loss, a distancing from the intimate relationship that humanity once had with the moon.

Then, the moon morphs into "the brilliant challenger of rocket experts, the white hope of communications men." These lines critically note how the moon has become a battleground for technological progress. It's a domain where rocket scientists test their engineering prowess, and where communicators see the potential for advancing their networks. While this signifies progress, there's a loss of reverence and spiritual connection to the moon.

Hayden moves from the communal to the personal by invoking the memories of his deceased loved ones "who were watchers of the moon and knew its lore." The moon served as a guide for planting seeds and even personal grooming, such as "trimming their hair" and "piercing their ears for gold hoop earrings." These traditions reflect an everyday spirituality that existed in harmony with celestial cycles. It's a poignant reminder of a time when the moon played an intimate role in daily human lives.

Furthermore, the poem claims that the moon was "burned in the garden of Gethsemane," linking it to the biblical narrative. Its light gained a sense of holiness, "made holy by the dazzling tears" during Christ's agony and His subsequent exile. Here, the moon is a silent witness to critical moments in religious history, its presence transformed by its proximity to divine suffering and sanctity.

Finally, Hayden concludes with an almost dystopian image: "Already a mooted goal and tomorrow perhaps an arms base, a livid sector, the full moon dominates the dark." The moon's future as potentially an "arms base" reflects humanity's propensity to extend its conflicts into new frontiers. Despite its historical sanctity and natural beauty, the moon might soon bear the scars of human belligerence.

In "Full Moon," Hayden captures the complexities of how we relate to the moon, weaving together personal, historical, and technological narratives. He questions what we lose when we reduce something as magnificent as the moon to merely a goal to be achieved or a place to be militarized. The poem serves as a lamentation for the lost spiritual and emotional connections, even as it acknowledges the advances and aspirations of human civilization.

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