Shine On, Harvest Moon

Only three things are missing from this picture...ET, Elliott, and the bicycle!

I happen to be a big admirer of the moon. Perhaps this admiration comes from reading "Goodnight, Moon" to my little ones every night for so many years, but more likely it reaches back to my own childhood and visions of the cow jumping over it, Peter Pan flying by it, the man peeking out from inside of it, or Wynken Blynken and Nod sailing blithely past it. Whatever the reason, just looking at the moon's pale glow makes me feel better. And while this old friend may not generate warmth in quite the same way the sun does, it manages to warm my heart every time I raise my eyes to the night sky and see its golden, reassuring face.

So, let's get to it! October has arrived, the frost is on the pumpkins, and a brightly shining harvest moon is on the rise. Clearly, an ode is in order.

In fact, one just happened to appear this morning, but it came with two endings.

Can you help me choose the best one? (And feel free to share your reasons, too!)

The Moon, More or Less

©2009 Susan Noyes Anderson

The moon's more friendly than the sun,

more soothing when the day is done,

more peaceful in the autumn sky,

more gentle to the naked eye.

The moon's less prideful than the sun,

less apt to glare at anyone,

less finicky as seasons turn,

and less inclined to cause moonburn.

or

and less capricious. (No moonburn!)

Thanks for your input. I'll select the last line tonight, once you've all chimed in, then post the final product on my poetry website tomorrow.

=)