MOONSTRUCK!

In celebration of the 50th
anniversary of Apollo 11, here is a
collection of poems about Earth’s glowing satellite.

Of the 58 poems, eight were composed
by editor Stevens, and the rest come from a wide range of both contemporary and
less-recent poets. One is a traditional verse from Kenya presented first in
English and then in Nandi. Two were composed by children. Boxall’s imaginative black-and-white
illustrations accompany the poetry. A few of the verses include brief
explanations of their significance, especially in connection with the space
program. Some of the poems are delightfully evocative: “Look at the moon! / A
crescent sky-ship sailing / out of a cloudy cocoon. / Look at the moon! / A
cauldron of amber / spelling, rain-come-soon.” Others beg to be read aloud: “You
bear the scars of asteroids / cratering your crust, / a dozen spaceman
footsteps / imprinted in your dust.” Several others are a good deal less
compelling for the intended audience. Some of the poems play with typography and
design. “Moonlight,” a poem ultimately describing moon shadows, has each line
repeated, offset and in lighter print, with an attractive sketch of a child
casting a very long shadow at the bottom.

Altogether, an attractive collection
of poems to share with young moonstruck listeners. (Poetry. 7-11)