Poem Analysis - Two Evening Moons

Federico Garcia Lorca's "Two Evening Moons" is a delicate and evocative poem, composed of two distinct sections dedicated to the poet's sister and her friend. The poem blends themes of death and rebirth, childhood innocence, and the unattainable with Lorca's signature lyrical style. A sense of melancholy underlies the initial pronouncements of death, but this shifts to a more whimsical and tender tone as the poem progresses, particularly in the second section, creating a bittersweet contemplation on life and longing.

A Promise of Renewal: Death and Rebirth

The first section of the poem centers on the image of a "dead" moon. This isn't presented as a finality, but rather a temporary state, a cyclical process. The repeated phrase "The moon is dead dead—it will come back to life in the spring" establishes a clear expectation of renewal. The imagery associated with this rebirth is natural and vibrant: "a south wind / ruffles the brow of the poplars," "our hearts yield their harvest of sighs," and "the roofs wear their grass hats." These images evoke a sense of springtime abundance and the interconnectedness of nature and human emotion. The “harvest of sighs” is a particularly interesting image, suggesting a release of sadness and longing that ultimately contributes to the cycle of life.

Childlike Wonder and Unreachable Desires

The second part of the poem shifts focus to the perspective of a child, represented by Lorca's sister, Isabelita. Her simple statement, "the earth is an orange," captures a childlike sense of wonder and a desire to see the world in its most vivid and accessible form. The moon, in contrast, expresses a desire to become an orange, highlighting a longing for something unattainable. The moon's "weeping" and the subsequent lines, "You can’t be—my dear—even if you turn pink / or a little bit lemon / How sad!" underscore the frustration of not being able to fulfill a fundamental desire. It's a poignant expression of limitations and the bittersweet recognition of reality.

Oranges, Moons, and Symbolic Longing

Oranges and moons function as key symbols within the poem. The orange, with its roundness, color, and association with the earth, represents wholeness, vitality, and tangible reality. In contrast, the moon, in its distant and ethereal quality, symbolizes longing, the unattainable, and a yearning for transformation. The moon's desire to become an orange can be interpreted as a desire to connect with the earth, to become something more grounded and real. The unfulfilled wish creates a sense of sadness and perhaps a broader commentary on the human condition: the inherent desire for things beyond our reach. Are we all, in some way, moons longing to be oranges?

A Lyrical Reflection on Life's Cycles

"Two Evening Moons" is a short but profound meditation on life, death, and the enduring power of longing. Through vivid imagery and contrasting perspectives, Lorca creates a poem that resonates with both the promise of renewal and the melancholy of unfulfilled desires. The poem's beauty lies in its ability to capture both the simple joys of childhood and the complex emotions that shape our understanding of the world, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of wonder and a gentle awareness of life's bittersweet realities. The two parts of the poem work together, the first section giving hope of renewal and the second providing an innocence that still yearns for something more, for something different.