Moon above the treetops
they will never
touch
Written 1996. The visualizations are generated by DALL-E & Microsoft Designer via Bing.
The described phenomenon is a classic optical illusion created by the human eye and perception. This illusion is explained by the so-called moon illusion (sometimes also called moon deception) and perspective effect. Let’s have a look:
Moon Illusion
When the moon is close to the horizon, it often appears much larger than when it’s high in the sky. Its actual size doesn’t change – it’s only our perception that suggests this to us. When the moon is low, we have reference points like trees, buildings, or mountains that give us the feeling that the moon is larger and closer to us than it really is.
Perspective Illusion
Perspective can make the moon appear as if it could “touch” things. Especially in combination with objects on the horizon or in the distance that lie in the same line of sight, the moon seems to be within reach. However, this is just a matter of viewpoint and angle. In reality, of course, the moon remains hundreds of thousands of kilometers away.
In imagination or in a spiritual dimension, souls can touch the moon or other untouchable things – a beautiful poetic notion!
Adjectives That Best Fit the Poem
distant, serene, unreachable, calm, quiet, ethereal, lofty, timeless, tranquil, vast, silent, eternal, high, peaceful, cool, mysterious, gentle, elusive, soft, subtle, still, unattainable, majestic, infinite
