American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. January happens to be my birth-month, and I’ve found out that in this month- for the Arapaho Indians-the moon means “when snow blows like spirits in the wind’.

 

when snow blows
like spirits in the wind
the full moon neither stirs nor blinks
when crying leaves
lie dying in the fields
the full moon neither shudders nor screams
Her glow she bestows on all
through chaos or calm
Her face-she turns earthwards
-upon our spirits as soundless balm

©Vivian Zems

 

Real Toads-Moonstruck