James Tate
The Plague of Divorce
There is an old rake leaning up against the house, and
today I saw a luna moth clinging to its handle. A long time
ago I read that a luna moth can smell the pheromones emitted
by a potential mate fifty miles away through all the pollution
of cities and factories and so on. So I just stared at it for
a while and thought about that. It must have had a six-inch
wingspan, lime-green with some beautiful spots. I was honored
that it had chosen my rake as its resting place. I was resting,
too. Of course it knew I was watching it. But, beyond that,
I had no idea what it was thinking. Occasionally, it moved its
wings slowly. Was it sending a message to me? Maybe it was just
telling me what it saw today, the farmhouses, the river, the fields
and forests, some deer. It’s lonely being a luna moth, but it’s
also exciting, all the travel, and of course the storms. And when
it does finally find a mate, I suppose there is no real love
exchanged, nothing particularly tender involved. I stood there
staring at it for the longest time. I was nearly asleep on my feet.
I heard a car door slam. It was Glena. “Come here and help me with
the groceries,” she said. I was afraid to leave the moth, but
I had to help Glena. I went over to the car and grabbed some bags.
“There’s a luna moth over there on the rake,” I said. “You’ll
never guess who I ran into at the store,” she said. “Who?” I said.
“Julian Hartley. Ashlie’s kicked him out. He’d never shopped for
groceries before in his life. He doesn’t know how to boil an egg,”
she said. “I wish you’d take a look at this beautiful luna moth
out there before it flies off,” I said. “You should have seen
what he had in his basket. It was pathetic. He was like a little
kid. Poor Julian,” she said. “Well, I guess we should have seen
this one coming,” I said. “Oh, I did, I just didn’t say anything
to you. I know you’ve never really liked Ashlie. You think she’s
a cold bitch, and Julian’s your friend,” she said. “That’s
not strictly true. Ashlie can be very funny. I just didn’t think
they were very well suited for one another, that’s all,” I said.
When we had finished putting the groceries away, I said, “I wish
you’d come outside and take a look at this luna moth. It’s really
quite amazing.” “Oh, and guess who else I saw. Maxine. She’s
really going to have those breast implants. I can’t believe it.
I already told her about all the dangers I’ve read about, so I
couldn’t say anything. It’s crazy,” she said. “Well, it’ll give
Harry something to play with in his spare time,” I said. “That’s
very crude of you,” she said. “Why else is she doing it?” I said.
“What did you do while I was gone?” she said. I had to think for
a second. “Well, I was mostly staring at this moth, a luna moth,”
I said. “Could you get me a rag, honey? I spilled some milk
trying to make room in here,” she said. I found a rag and handed
it to her. She was down on her hands and knees. “When you think
of how many of our friends have gotten divorced it’s downright
scary,” she said. “Have you ever seen a luna moth?” I said.
“One of these days I’m going to clean this fridge. I keep saying
that, and I keep putting it off. It’s just one of those things
I hate to do,” she said. “I’ve only seen one in my whole life
and it’s out there right now, or at least it was,” I said. “Maybe
we should get a new one. This one is at least fifteen years old,”
she said. I turned and walked out the door. Just as I approached
the rake, I saw it lift off and fly away. Night was falling. It
had to get somewhere, somewhere so particular in the vast world
only it had imagined, and for whom only it could make real.