Full Moon in June

Full moon

In June

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Rhymes so nicely, I'll just have to celebrate with poetry this month!  Watch for the lunar lushness to come into full-fullness on June 15 at 20:18.

 

The Owl and the Pussycat was one of my first bedtime stories.  I still remember my mother's dramatic recitations.  From solemn to swooning... over the top and perfect for the single-digit set.  This is supposed to be a "nonsense poem" but I don't see anything non-sensical about it!  Full of wise advice and touching on so many critical subjects:  love & marriage, sailing, dancing in the moonlight and fine dining with runcible spoons!

This June moon is known as the strawberry moon so it is a perfect excuse to eat the fresh fruit (with a runcible spoons, of course!).  Ontario strawberries are in the stores now and bursting with flavour.  Not quite as big as their Southern cousins, they have such an intense flavour.  Just 2 or 3 grains of sugar are more than enough to enhance the natural sweetness.  And of course, the roses are starting to open, right on cue. (June moons are also known as Rose Moons)

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The Owl and the Pussycat 

(Edward Lear)

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
 
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are,
What a beautiful Pussy you are."
 

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Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing.
O let us be married, too long we have tarried;
But what shall we do for a ring?"

They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows,
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
 

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"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?"
 Said the Piggy, "I will"
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.

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They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.
They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.