Dancing Dust
	Poems by Mollie Caird (1922-2000)
	Magdalen by moonlight
Home Alphabetic index of poems Thematic index of poems Biography Gallery Contact and links	Brilliant the glass-clear moon, silver petal, Metal-bright in the sky, but in the stream Dream-trembling, insubstantial as the pale Frail gold leaves that float and drown Down where the water shakes with the moon’s laughter, After sorrow of the willows’ wailing, Trailing their grey hands where shadows are. Far below the bridge the current’s dancing, Glancing up to the delicate pinnacle trees, Easily lifting, spreading leaves stone-wrought, Caught star-reaching in the cold, fire-white Brightness of the still untroubled moon. Two earlier versions of this poem have minor differences of wording and are titled 'Magdalen at Night' and 'Magdalen Bridge'. Undated, c1941 Oxford Times, 6 April 1962 The Dancing Dust and other poems, 1983