Light Show

Mark Twain observed that if the stars appeared only once a year, on that night the whole world would step outside to see them.
Of course this was before man polluted the night with excessive light.
Some years ago a comet appeared in the sky.  There was much media hoopla.  When asked if I was excited about the comet, I replied "Yes, but I would be happy just to see the Milky Way again."

The stars once gave us signs,
shapes to see, myths to find.
Orion's belt is now our share,
half a fighter standing there
looking for a vanished bear.

Beneath the night's soft shade
a quiet and untroubled glade
abides with dreams of home and place
to calm the sad and puzzled face
of man and his sinful ways.
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