by the spoonful / 1:17 pm

The Moon 

You can take the moon by the spoonful 
or in capsules every two hours. 
It's useful as a hypnotic and sedative 
and besides it relieves 
those who have had too much philosophy. 
A piece of moon in your purse 
works better than a rabbit's foot. 
Helps you find a lover 
or get rich without anyone knowing, 
and it staves off doctors and clinics. 
You can give it to children like candy 
when they've not gone to sleep, 
and a few drops of moon in the eyes of the old 
helps them to die in peace. 

Put a new leaf of moon 
under your pillow 
and you'll see what you want to. 
Always carry a little bottle of air of the moon 
to keep you from drowning. 
Give the key to the moon 
to prisoners and the disappointed. 
For those who are sentenced to death 
and for those who are sentenced to life 
there is no better tonic than the moon 
in precise and regular doses. 

Jaime Sabines 
-- Poemas sueltos, 1981 
translated by W. S. Merwin