I Hate the Moon by Robert Graves

Name: I Hate the Moon
Author: Robert Graves

The poem explores a deep-seated aversion to the Moon, contrasting its perceived beauty and joyfulness with a personal sense of dread and madness. The speaker expresses a strong dislike for the Moon's brightness, which they find cruel and unsettling. This aversion is intensified by the belief that the Moon has a malevolent influence on people, driving them to madness. The speaker prefers the stars, finding solace in their presence, particularly in constellations like the Big Bear and a star resembling a diamond ring. The Moon's "stupid face" and its "horrible stony stare" evoke feelings of fear and discomfort, suggesting that the speaker associates it with a looming threat. The imagery conveys a sense of isolation and a distorted perception of the world under the Moon's light, which transforms the environment into something unrecognizable and frightening. The poem captures a struggle between the beauty that others see in the Moon and the speaker's personal turmoil. The Moon symbolizes a force that disrupts the speaker's peace, leading to a foreboding sense that it will eventually cause them harm. This internal conflict highlights themes of madness, fear, and the subjective nature of beauty, ultimately presenting the Moon as a powerful, ominous presence in the speaker's life.

By Robert Graves · First published 1945 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Nature · 183 words

First lines

(_After a moonlight patrol near the Brickstacks_)

I hate the Moon, though it makes most people glad, And they giggle and talk of silvery beams -- you know! But _she_ says the look of the Moon drives people mad, And that's the thing that always frightens me so.

I hate it worst when it's cruel and round and bright, And you can't make out the marks on its stupid face, Except when you shut your eyelashes, and all night The sky looks green, and the world's a horrible place.

I like the stars, and especially the Big Bear And the W star, and one like a diamond ring, But I _hate_ the Moon and its horrible stony stare, And I know one day it'll do me some dreadful thing.

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I Hate the Moon is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Graves, dated 1945 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Robert Graves
Date: 1945 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Nature, Dark Fantasy, Romanticism
Length: 183 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and imagery typical of poetry.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and feelings towards the moon, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Nature — The poem reflects on natural elements, particularly the moon and stars, exploring their impact on human emotions.
Dark Fantasy — The themes of madness and fear associated with the moon suggest elements of dark fantasy.