We have an artist friend who loves to paint moons and over the years has taught us a thing or two about this mysterious orb. She was the first one to help us see the outline of the woman in the moon. There is no doubt she will love this compendium of lunar science, myth, folklore, poetry, and curious facts by urban shaman, writer, and teacher Donna Henes, who hails from "Exotic Brooklyn."
People from all cultures have watched and wondered about the moon. Perhaps that's why it is such a spur to fantasy and imagination. Savor the following haiku by Ryoho, an eighteenth century Japanese poet: "Scooping up the moon / in the water-basin / and spilling it." The astronaut Frank Borman said on December 24, 1968: "The moon is such a different thing to each of us." This entertaining paperback certainly attests to that truth. You will find perspectives on the moon by Native American elder Black Elk, from the Baganda of Central Africa who bathe their newborns by the light of the first full moon, and from police reports that link assaults to a full moon. Henes shares a list of illustrious moon watchers, an encyclopedia of lunar terminology, and little-known facts about our celestial neighbor. Enjoy this fascinating read, and give it to everyone you know who loves the moon.
