For Bettina, a Tuesday Prologue

From nightsky’s black earth
Rare lilies, like stars,
Flower into life, yours and mine.
Orion, Andromeda, these startling sickles.
Of each our nights, recumbent beyond mere mortal
Rest, are not fixed but pliant to our motion
When courage lip to lip embraces despair.
Do not to the deep sorrow surrender
But ever twine upward to the silver light
Eyes a blast furnace terror to untruth.
Through windowpane I view the wide vistas
Of improbability become possible, hugging each to
Other in heartrending love: no more the one step
That’s a giant stride for mankind, but you and I
In fiery leap burning bright become starfruits
Over stony ground.

FOR BETTINA, A TUESDAY PROLOGUE