STAR GAZING - Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet
Long, long ago there lived a man, far, far away from here.
and he appeared to be a bloke with whom you'd sink a beer.
He saw the world for what it was...it's beauty and delight.
He asked a question once about the stars we see at night.
He asked - ‘If stars were only seen once in a thousand years
would people sleep or would they weep or would they cringe in fear?
Would there be new religions started up by folks in fright
or would we be ecstatic at the Glory of Gods night?’
We see the whole world piece by piece, the sun and moon, the tree.
The whole, of which these are just parts, is deeper hid in thee.
The essence and the myriad things that makes the world a whole,
resides away from prying eyes within you...it's your soul.
You have to think I do suppose on questions such as these.
For don't we take for granted, the rivers, seas and trees?
Do we perceive the beauty that surrounds us every minute
and realize it's beautiful, as we are living in it?
Chances are good we don't my friends, we live here every day.
But how we wonder and proclaim when e'er we go away.
We rave about the scenic view, or crisp clean mountain air,
and just look at those gardens . Oh how wonderful to share.
We all take photos we can post on web sites when we're back
to show where we’ve been, what we've done, and how we got the knack
of camel riding, hang gliding, boogie boarding too
but do we take a minute to appreciate our view.
Ralph Waldo Emerson the man, ‘twas he inspired this verse.
Philosopher and poet, abolitionist, sad cursed.
A man who asked what we would do if stars were rarely seen.
Each night the heavens glow with stars – we watch stars on the screen.
