The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #30616   Message #398290
Posted By: Art Thieme
14-Feb-01 - 11:03 PM
Thread Name: Folklore: 'Fingernail Moon' metaphor
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Origin of 'Fingernail Moon' Metaphor
On another tack:

The fine old ballad "SIR PATRICK SPENCE" (Child #58) --

'Alake and alas now, good master
For I fear a deadly storm,
For I saw the new moon yesterday
With the old moon in her arms.

Many is the time I have seen that very thing---the larger darker oval cradled in the the silver sliver of the brighter crescent.

Art Thieme