Moon-Gazer : A Guyanese Folk Spirit

Moon-Gazer

On moonlight night
when moon is bright -

Beware, Beware,
Moon-Gazer man
with his throw-back head
and his open legs -
gazing, gazing up at the moon -

Moon-Gazer man
with his seal-skin hair
and his round-eye stare -
staring, staring
up at the moon

Moon-Gazer man
standing tall
lamp-post tall
just gazing up
at moon eye-ball

But never try to pass
between those open legs
cause Moon-Gazer man
will close them with a snap -
you'll be trapped

Moon-Gazer man
will crush you flat.
Yes, with just one shake
suddenly you'll be -
a human pancake

On moonlight night
when moon is bright
for goodness sake
stay home - and pull
your window curtain tight.

                                         By Grace Nichols