The full moon of April is the Sun-Tear Moon. It’s a curious image that is evoked by this phrase: a tear of the sun, a drop of fire like a drop of rain. April is of course the month of rains, when spring is underway, and the sun glances through the clouds in fits. If we are lucky, we get to experience that liminal moment that occurs when it’s raining while the sun’s out, and then we can truly experience a Tear of the sun, like liquid gold.
Spring in Texas is short-lived: cool winter quickly gives way to sweltering summer, and spring rain is either non-existant or existing in flash-flooding. Texas is a land of extremes, and spring is not an extreme time. All the same, I like to think I can feel the same stirrings of life that will erupt from the ground in wetter, cooler climes, and I can catch a glimpse of spring in the momentary flash of a rainbow. In fact, perhaps the image of the sun-tear I can best think of is sunlight on a puddle, sunlight on a drop of dew that will quickly fade in the heat of the day. Spring is fleeting, just like tears. Just like light.
The full moon of April is also known as Flower Moon, Seed Moon, Planting Moon, and Growing Moon.
