Moon Gazing

[intertext]

There is a new (ish) moon out there, looking like a lopsided grin in the sky. When I see such a moon, I am reminded of "The moon is on its back tonight, as is its custom in the tropics," which is a line from a novel by Vita Sackville West. I know this because once upon a long time ago, I taught an excerpt from that novel in China, in the textbook that we were using. It seemed then like such an odd choice. And now, I reflect that what a wonderful life I've had that I taught Vita Sackville West in China, and that I know who she is in other contexts, and that I am reminded of her now as I look at the moon.