The harvest moon.
I remember when we would actually harvest the crops under the moon’s light. Tradition, luck, blessing? Who knows why we did it? We never knew nor cared. It was to be done and done, it was.
Then the hunter’s moon.
The first full moon after the harvest moon. When hunting would be done to stock up for winter. I’d watch the hunters go out and come back with their kills. Sustenance for the long, cold nights and days.
Then I became a hunter under the moon.
Moonlight, night time. Hunting the unwary, the foolhardy, the just plain stupid. It was my sustenance. They were my harvest and prey. It was a simpler time then.
Now I go out to harvest candy.
I walk with my grandchildren dressed in black with fake fangs and a red cape. Gatherer of refined sugar and corn syrup. Squeals of children replace screams of terror, murmured ‘thank you’s instead of whimpers of mercy. Everything changes.
But the moon. The moon stays the same. Harvest and Hunter.
Dark souls in moonlight
Hungered for blood to sustain
Now go trick or treat
This was for a dVerse prompt: Whether it’s the light of October’s Full Moon, or the fright of Halloween, let’s testify! Write a haibun that alludes to either the Hunter’s Moon or Halloween. I hope you enjoy! 😊
