Moonshine

Moonlighting, black economy,
it’s on the dark side where there’s work,
so is it nighttime, gains the name,
or does the lunar hide from sight?
It’s off the books, no questions asked,
under the table, cash in hand,
black market, not in sales but jobs,

It’s summer norm, on building sites,
in spring, grant ending, balance spend,
then autumn when the fairs close down,
and winter with tears, moonshine drunk.
A redshift marks expanding stars,
though Before Yule, and Long Nights, Cold,
are names of full moons as year turns.

Here’s latest operation code,
without connection to its rôle,
as crosswords puzzlers, pub quiz teams,
and gossip columnists at work
debate the meaning of the words –
sonata playing to the trill –
as tidal pull of secrets calls.

Do agents plotting in the shade,
ghost friction writers fanning flames,
now in this season, discontent,
lay out deceptions, frozen waste?
The sky’s clear, ‘Winter Moonlight’ op.,
when silver tingles, shiver light,
but midnight asks what’s going on.

Published by Medusa’s Kitchen, 26th February 2024

https://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/2024/02/mooning-for-springtime.html