Laura Plummer's sonnet "How to Love the Moon" won two poetry awards in 2023, a lovely moment for Pagan poetry and for everyone who has ever stood outside and simply looked up. The poem won the Dancing Poetry's Richard Angilly Memorial Contest and was a Laureates' Choice in the Maria W. Faust Sonnet Contest. As part of the Richard Angilly prize, the sonnet was set to be performed as a costumed dance. It's a joy to see openly Pagan themes, like moon worship and the Divine Feminine, recognized in the wider poetry world.
Laura is an eclectic Pagan who moved from Boston to Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 2014. In 2023, after winning her awards, she discovered a family connection to the town's history: she is the 9th great-grandniece of Esther Elwell, one of the Gloucester women accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials of 1692. For Laura, it felt as if the threads of fate had drawn her back to her ancestral roots.
Without knowing it, Laura was carrying on her ancestor's story in a very different world: one where a woman can write openly about loving the moon and be celebrated for it. It's a reminder that sometimes the deepest connections show up when we follow our hearts, and that our ancestors may be closer than we think. Here is Laura's poem:
How to Love the Moon (a Sonnet)
By Laura Plummer
They never taught us how to love the moon;
We rarely gaze above to find her face.
She hovers like a child's lost balloon,
Forever waxing, waning, full of grace.
She's just another country to be named,
A place to plant our flag and claim our prize,
A wild woman needing to be tamed,
Another foreign land to colonize.
So boil some herbs and sip a witchy brew,
And cleanse yourself in her magnetic pull.
Let's manifest our dreams when she is new,
And offer up our thanks when she is full.
When balance is restored, I reckon soon,
We'll teach our children how to love the moon.
Embracing Paganism Through Poetry
Laura's sonnet weaves Pagan themes through its moonlit images. As the poem suggests, our natural love for the moon, a symbol of the Divine Feminine and of the Moon Goddess, is easy to forget. Its closing lines are practically a ritual guide: brew some herbs (our tea spells are a lovely start), set intentions at the new moon, and give thanks at the full moon. If you'd like to follow her advice, our moon phases and simple rituals guide and our free moon calendar will help you keep time with her. The awards honor Laura's craft as a poet, and they're also a small milestone for Pagan voices in mainstream art.
A Shift Toward Acceptance and Understanding
The awards for "How to Love the Moon" are a sign that Pagan themes are finding a welcome in the arts. The poem's journey from the page to a costumed dance performance is a sweet picture of that acceptance, and a reminder that the arts have room for every spiritual path.
Uniting Art and Spirituality
Paganism is often misunderstood, and poems like this one give it a gentle, clear voice. "How to Love the Moon" speaks to the wonder and connection with nature at the heart of Pagan spirituality. As Laura invites us to love the moon again, she also invites us to reconnect with the natural world and with each other.
Next time the moon is full, step outside, read the poem aloud, and say thank you. Maybe make some moon water while you're there. Have you written a poem, song or piece of art inspired by your path? We'd love to hear about it.
Check out more of Laura's work, plus links to her social media on her website here: https://lauraplummer.me/
Check out these related articles:
Moon Phases and Simple Rituals
Who are the Moon Goddess and Horned God?
How to Make Moon Water
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