Alwyn Marriage
Venus Ascendant

Venus has excelled herself
this month, balancing
like a brightly illuminated
space station to the north west
of my house.

As she moves further
northwards in search
of a hiding place,
a new moon emerges
from infinite darkness
to watch, if not to catch her.

Although the points
of the crescent are turned
shyly, maybe slyly, away
from her, there’s a certain
predatory gleam to that normally
innocent cradle, and it looks as though
Venus might become trapped
in those radiant arms;

but, full of confidence born of
her month of glory, Venus smiles
at the young moon’s flirtation,
grows even brighter in the glow
of lunar admiration, and
surreptitiously shifts
further away.