October 12, 2023
Vermont Night
“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Somewhere outside of Montpelier
miles from the lights of town
with autumn approaching
but not yet
I stand under the night sky
and gaze up.
Such a simple act
raising my face to night
my sight to light
after light after light
so many stars that the sky
shimmers in its own
vastness. And in my own
smallness,
I wonder about our hubris
when we blocked out
the light and about how different
this present world would be
with its wars and divisions
its assaults upon itself
if we could
each night
raise our faces
to witness the stars
the multitude of
suns shining down
on a darkened world
miles from the light.
(c) Rosemary McMahan

I will look at the stars tonight. Thank you.
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Your poetry with its reflections are so timely. I relive the nights last month when I sat in awe gazing up at starlit skies during a “starry night” getaway from the city. I was so humbled by the peace and vastness of it all. And now I think of the thousands of people who, instead of starry nights overhead are experiencing the lighted horror of missile attacks and anti-missile interceptors. May the lights of war be replaced by the lights of peace and compassion. 🙏💜
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