Black Moon - By Claire Mary Taylor

Written By: Claire Mary Taylor

Category: Creative Non-Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Claire Mary Taylor, writing under the name Black Moon, presents her reflective piece "Black Moon" in the Creative Non-Fiction category for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This poignant narrative delves into moments of solitude and fleeting connections, capturing a cold night under the moonlit sky. Through vivid descriptions and introspective dialogue, Claire takes readers on a journey of introspection and subtle human interactions.

About the Work

"Black Moon" is a contemplative piece that paints a vivid picture of a cold night, exploring themes of isolation and fleeting companionship. The narrative is rich with imagery, from the cold iron garden chair to the glowing cigarettes shared under a dark sky. Claire Mary Taylor uses her words to craft an atmosphere of quiet reflection, where every action and shared glance holds deeper meaning.

Black Moon

Original Submission by Claire Mary Taylor

Black Moon

I fumble with the lighter, my fingers are being bitten by the cold. Beneath my puffer jacket I'm in my pyjamas. Fluffy slippers on my feet.

I sit down on a cold iron garden chair. Adjust my gaze to a small square of sky. There's a tree in the middle of the courtyard blocking most of my view. But the moon is there. Hanging in the sky.

It starts to slowly disintegrate. It's getting smaller bit by bit.

I rush inside. Call to the group playing 30 Seconds.

'The moon!' I exclaim. 'It's getting smaller.'

A few turn from the game. Look a bit perplexed. Two get up and follow me out into the night air. Suzy and Nkanyiso.

We stare up at the sky. The moon is a mere sliver now. Clouds scutter over it.

'It's almost gone,' Suzy states.

Nkanyiso stands silently. I relight my cigarette.

There is no illumination. Just darkness, like a black velvet curtain has been dropped over the sky. My cigarette glows. The lights from inside the hospital corridors offer a few slices of light.

'It's still there right?' Suzy asks. 'The sun?'

Nkanyiso takes one of my cigarettes out the box and lights it. It shows how much I like him that I let him. It's Covid and the cigarettes are contraband. Each one is precious but often not treated as such.

'I'm going to go back to 30 Seconds,' Suzy says.

Nkanyiso and I sit in silence. Neither of us mind the cold as much as the others.

'How's the sleep?' I ask him.

'You know I get up in the middle of the night to pray. There's not much time for sleep.'

He's up in the night praying to the Ancestors, he's told me.

'The thing is still there.'

'I know,' I say.

We light another cigarette. Our hands are cold.

'That's the thing. You can't ever talk about it.'

Nkanyiso looks at me with eyes that say no. Don't talk about it.

'They'll lock you up, Claire. Worse than this.'

I nod.

'What's the trip to the horses like?' he asks.

'The group goes to a farm where there are horses and sort of get to know them,' I explain.

'Cool.'

The air is colder now. Time for bed. We go inside.

Inside the warm corridors of the hospital, half the patients are asleep. The other half are still in the lounge playing games. I say goodnight. Go off to the kitchen to make rooibos tea. There's raucous laughter coming from the lounge. I still feel cold.

In bed I toss and turn. Clutch my pink plastic rosary. Pray the only words I can ever manage. Hail Mary.

The sleeping tablets haven't worked. They're upping another drug tomorrow. The more the merrier.

The dawn breaks into a milky sunrise. I get up. Feel heavy. Feel fat. I wrap my coat around me. Head into the corridor. Everyone else is still asleep. A nurse sits at the station warming herself by an electric heater.

I go outside. Sit on the iron chair. Wait. It's only six thirty in the morning and this is not the house of the rising sun.

Suzy comes out. She's looking tired.

'How did you sleep?' I ask.

She shrugs. We sit and chat about the day ahead.

'There are lectures with Nigel today.'

'He's certainly eager,' I offer.

A few other smokers file out of their bedrooms into the cold. They complain about it.

'Don't you ever get cold?' they say to me as they head back indoors.

Suzy soon capitulates and she passes Nkanyiso on her way in.

'It's getting colder.'

I nod.

We talk about the weather. Nkanyiso sits down.

'When I was a boy there was a hut.'

He ashes his cigarette.

'An old man too.'

We sit in silence.

'After that. That's when I first felt it.'

I nod. Offer him another cigarette. He pockets it. Something special for later.

We're all dressed and ready for our outing. We're going to see the horses. We bundle into the van and set off. It's strange to see the outside world again. Everything is there.

We pass through the muted landscape. The grass blackened by fire. We're at the base of a hill. Patients start to walk up it. Suzy struggles. Some can't make it. Nkanyiso walks it with ease. I walk beside him.

The bare bones of the winter trees rattle in the wind. But the sun is out and its warmth is inviting.

We finally catch a glimpse of the horses. The facilitator stops. She beckons us nearer.

We enter the paddock. These are no show ponies. They are Friesians. War horses. People stand scattered around. We wait.

A horse named Honey walks over to a patient and nuzzles her. She lifts up a tentative hand to stroke the horse.

'It likes me,' she squeals.

Others are encouraged. They stand there eager.

Nkanyiso walks over to stand by the largest of the horses. The horse stares at him squarely. Then turns and walks in the opposite direction.

I start to cry.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a celebration of literary talent, inviting writers worldwide to share their unique voices. This prestigious event showcases a diverse range of categories, encouraging creativity and expression. Participants from various backgrounds contribute their works, creating a rich tapestry of storytelling and poetic artistry.

We extend our gratitude to Claire Mary Taylor for her engaging submission, "Black Moon," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her ability to weave introspective themes with vivid imagery offers readers a profound experience. Thank you, Claire, for sharing your creative voice with us.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.