a poem by Louise Gluck
Under Taurus
Under Taurus
that I see the Pleiades. I could see
everything but what you wished.
Now I will follow. There is not a single cloud; the stars
appear even the invisible sister. Show me where to look,
as though they will stay where they are.
Instruct me in the dark.
Isn't that beautiful?
That to me is just perfect.
Isn't that perfect?
Everything just comes together. Perfect.
Of course, I feel inspired.
Under Uranus...
easy fishing, that. Low hanging fruit. But can you blame me?
I know Uranus isn't a constellation, but it is a heavenly body, so I let it stand.
"Of course, you'll have to know exactly where to look for it. Barely visible by a keen naked eye on very dark, clear nights...Uranus is...visible during the evening hours among the stars of Pisces, the Fishes." https://www.space.com/22983-see-planet-uranus-night-sky.html
Under Uranus, inspired by Louise Gluck's 'Under Taurus'
I stare stupidly up,
I can't find Pisces
in that mass of past brilliance
much less Uranus.
I don't understand the first thing
about astronomy.
There was that one time though,
when the,
colloquially speaking,
planets alligned
and the sky was clear
and the telescope
a cheap one
we bought for the children at Christmas,
though we could ill afford it,
that they never even asked for,
was finally assembled.
That one time,
when the sky was clear
I marveled
at the fullness of the moon;
reflected
reflector
reflected
in my squinting right eye.
Or here's another attempt.
We were in the driveway,
Looking up at Orion,
see the belt? See the sword?
not able to discern the
difference between Ursas
major or minor.
Remembering
that astronomy class I almost flunked in college;
years later making friends with the wife of
my professor,
hoping he wouldn't remember me
mediocre student of the cosmos
though he tried to instruct me, among the many
in the dark lecture hall.
Oh Louise.
such a travesty.
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