NightSky*Stars
I have to re-post another old poem again. The muse is missing, the avalanche of work at the office doesn't seem to abate. Sigh.
This poem is part of a set I sent to a nationwide poetry competition a few years ago, although it was written very much earlier. There's some naivety in structure and words, but this piece has remained one of my personal favourites.
Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night.
image from internet
NightSky&Stars
What myriad secrets you hold up there
we can only boldly guess
Your mysteries, time locked
& unwilling yet to share
What light i saw
could have been born a billion years before
you are ancient legends, retold over glowing fires
domains of the gods, we are told.
In time, as we grow wiser,
we dare, we probe your dark canvas
Your depth, i could not fathom
the immense distance you span.
If i could live a million reincarnations,
i guess i could not traverse you from end to end.
Tonight, on such a cold night,
in a miniscule niche on a blue planet,
as i lift my eyes to the vastness above,
the stars, they speak to me in lights of life.
On this planet, spinning, are we.
Solar Planetary System, #3
ashes to earth to life to earth to ashes
trilobites in shale, archaeopteryx in amber
Beatles on wax, memories in silicon brains
man chasing gold chasing dreams chasing fame
now what light i saw
could have been me a billion years before.
*** DEC 1987 ***
This poem is part of a set I sent to a nationwide poetry competition a few years ago, although it was written very much earlier. There's some naivety in structure and words, but this piece has remained one of my personal favourites.
Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night.
image from internet
NightSky&Stars
What myriad secrets you hold up there
we can only boldly guess
Your mysteries, time locked
& unwilling yet to share
What light i saw
could have been born a billion years before
you are ancient legends, retold over glowing fires
domains of the gods, we are told.
In time, as we grow wiser,
we dare, we probe your dark canvas
Your depth, i could not fathom
the immense distance you span.
If i could live a million reincarnations,
i guess i could not traverse you from end to end.
Tonight, on such a cold night,
in a miniscule niche on a blue planet,
as i lift my eyes to the vastness above,
the stars, they speak to me in lights of life.
On this planet, spinning, are we.
Solar Planetary System, #3
ashes to earth to life to earth to ashes
trilobites in shale, archaeopteryx in amber
Beatles on wax, memories in silicon brains
man chasing gold chasing dreams chasing fame
now what light i saw
could have been me a billion years before.
*** DEC 1987 ***
Labels: night, Poetry, reflectins, sky, stars
posted by dsnake1 at 11:30 PM
14 Comments:
Looking up at stars always make me feel small and wonder at the universe being so large and ancient that I can't ever understand it.
>>There's some naivety in structure and words, but this piece has remained one of my personal favorites.
Perhaps it suits the tone of childlike wonder whenever one looks up into the heavens.
Hello brother, I have no problem with the rest of the poem but this line sounds a bit funny to me.
On this planet, spinning, are we.
Cheers.
Liz, it sure does. even now.
>>There's some naivety in structure and words...
maybe when it was written, it hasn't reach the "matured" stage of my writing :)
alson,
i know, now i find it awkward too.
inversion, trying to rhyme.
early poetry, :)
stars invite questions
bet you're still asking :)
nice one
wandering thoughts....lovely
floots,
you bet! still asking, but not getting enough answers. :)
magiceye,
yes sir, my mind tends to wander a lot..:)
We are but a miniscule particle in the larger canvas.
I like this a lot.
looking at the vastness of a starlit sky makes my mind wander (and wonder), too...
love the ending!
gautami,
yes , we are.
like floots said, i bet you are still asking questions about the stars..:)
polona,
thank you.
i like the ending too, i think it is one of the best ones i have ever written. :)
very nice work!
1987 -- seems like yesterday :)
I'm glad you posted this. I can see why it's one of your favorites. I like it, too!
thank you, andrew!
like yesterday? :) yeah, the years seem to flash by...
hi gel,
thanks!
i like this one for the thoughts and beliefs that i felt when i was writing it.
WOW!!! I like how you turn the light from external to internal.
a WOW!! from pat is always welcome! :)
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