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Let the Blood Moon Do What It Came For

by Sam McAlister
Chapter 2
They said the moon would rise blood-red
if certain debts were paid,
not coin nor prayer nor borrowed oath
but work the old way made.
You didn’t ask too many whys
up north where winters judge,
you listened when the ground spoke low
and learned when not to grudge.

The instructions came from river men
and trappers gone to drink,
from maps with corners worn to lace
and margins stained with ink.
They said you cut no living thing
and spoke no sacred name,
you only had to stand just right
and let the sky do same.

You waited till the frost went quiet,
till dogs refused to howl,
till shadows stretched like tired men
too proud to beg or bow.
The fire stayed low, the circle bare,
no chant, no sign, no plea,
just breathing slow and facing up
like fate was company.

At first the moon stayed pale and clean,
a silver lie at rest,
but then it thickened, darkened slow,
as if the night confessed.
A stain crept in from one low edge
the color rust recalls,
like iron left too long in rain
or blood on cabin walls.

The old ones said don’t cheer it on,
don’t flinch, don’t turn away,
the moon’s not rising for your sake
but settling a stay.
It climbs for debts the earth remembers,
for bargains sealed in bone,
for names the stars refuse to speak
but never quite disown.

When it was full and burning red
the land held tight its breath,
no wind, no sound, no heartbeat stirred
between the life and death.
Some swear they saw the shadows lean,
some swear they heard a voice,
but most just stood and understood
the cost of being choice.

By dawn the moon was white again
like nothing had been said,
the ground went back to minding crops,
the river played instead.
But those who stood beneath that rise
walk different after that,
their shadows lag a step behind
and point where roads go flat.

So if you hear a quiet night
ask more than it should know,
and see the moon hold color wrong
and hesitate to go,
don’t curse the sky or pray it straight
or blame some ancient tune,
just mind your breath and mind your debt
and let the Blood Moon do.