I Saw My Old Mate Again

Cherry

By mickleinapickle

Sun, 04 Mar 2018
  • 1728 reads
6 comments
 

I couldn't see him…

 

then the cloud shifted

and there he was,

glittering in the night sky,

hovering over the greenhouse

with his tail pointing to The Lickey Hills.

 

I remembered that time…

 

a small boy with a tall father,

seeking from a different garden.

 

I wondered when my kind had first met him…

 

did they gaze at the night sky,

recognise him and introduce themselves

as Homo Sapien, the upright ape-man?

 

They must have understood his shape

and named him, 'The Plough.'

They could not have known

he was part of Ursa Major

or perhaps they did.

 

I wondered how many generations

had died to permit me

to speak to him last night.

 

In an upwardly mobile world,

it's good to know

that some things never change.

 

I've shown my children where he is…

 

I hope they'll take a moment

to gaze at the night sky,

say hello to him

and remember me.

Certificate U
Poem
01 Along The Highway
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

A lovely meditation on time and the night sky.

Submitted by mickleinapickle on

Thanks for your comment, Sidney.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Orion keeps watch in the sky above our garage.  When my kids were small I pointed him out and told them this, and they were staggered when they found out they could see him elsewhere.  He remains their 'special' piece of the sky, and I hope they will pass that down if they have any children.

So much in this, about our history and our relationships.  It's a lovely piece, Shackleton.

 

Submitted by mickleinapickle on

Thanks for your comment, Airyfairy. I don't think this is the best poem I've ever written, but it's one of my favourites. There's something about gazing on and wondering about the stars on a cloudless night. It's amazing to think countless generations throughout the ages have gazed and wondered as we do today.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Great piece of writing Shackleton and what a great way to be remembered by your children.

Very much enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by mickleinapickle on

Thanks for your comment, Jennifer. There's something about the night sky that touches a body's soul.