Mooncatchers

Papa sent us out on a Tuesday night

To catch the moon

In our brand new shoes

Gotta wear new shoes

To catch the moon

Old ones slow you down

We run along the edge of town

With dresses on and hair pulled back

Buttons buttoned

Ties tied up

Looking like dancing folk

And the moon dips down

Like a lady getting into a pool

Knowing we’re gonna catch her

In our net

Two new moons’ll rise and fall

And one day

We’ll be grown

Until then

We’re as pretty as can be

Papa says we’re moon catchers

And that’s all

We could ever wanna be

Hands in hands

And coins in fountains

Wishes in a well

Stars that shine

That weddings

In the sky

I hope the river runs us up

And lets us float along

The people in the church

Pray for our souls

But we’re all set

Next to the tree

Where Papa first met Mama

The smell of lilac

Still sleeps in the air

A picnic table

A tire swing

Two kids from different pasts

An idea of who they were s’posed to be

Moon catchers can grab the moon

And hold it for awhile

But then you know

You have to set it free

What looks like you

And sings like Ma

And tells a story like our dad

Feels like something

I’m so scared to lose

But back we go

Behind the field

Around the settler’s pond

Into beds

Where we can’t

Fall asleep

Moon catchers still glowing

From the evening’s song and dance

Lunar dust caked on the bottom

Of our feet

My net’s hung above my bed

The window’s open just a bit

And Papa’s standing

Right behind the bedroom door

Laying here a child

Knowing childhood is done

All I know is

I couldn’t ask

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