16 Comments
User's avatar
erniet's avatar

That’s unfortunate. I grew up in a rural area where the night sky was spectacular; also my grandfather was a merchant seaman whose livelihood was navigation by “sextant and almanac” (this was in the days before gps or even LORAN). He taught me all the stars and constellations.

It’s still a great joy of mine to sit and stare at the night sky; I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea though.

Ken's avatar

It isn’t that I don’t marvel at the night sky. I’m just lacking names for what I see...

erniet's avatar

Oh, right. Not that naming things increases enjoyment.

I tried to post a link with a simple star map of the constellations and stars mentioned here; the Pleiades, Taurus, Orion, Sirius, Betelgeuese, Procyon. They're all in the same section of sky and are known as the winter constellations because they're overhead in winter. This thing won't let me post images in reply.

Caleb Taylor's avatar

Beautiful

Jeff Urdank's avatar

Very good. 👍😎

Ken's avatar

Most of us aren’t up on the names of constellations and other starry phenomena. Or their locations.

Or maybe it’s just me

erniet's avatar

That’s unfortunate. I grew up in a rural area where the night sky was spectacular; also my grandfather was a merchant seaman whose livelihood was navigation by “sextant and almanac” (this was in the days before gps or even LORAN). He taught me all the stars and constellations.

It’s still a great joy of mine to sit and stare at the night sky; I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea though.

CynthiaS's avatar

Splendid! This is such a lovely poem. I used to have memorized the 16 brightest stars and could find them all. You brought back that memory with this poem. Here in Michigan Orion is quite prominent in the winter sky 🌌 🔭❤️

erniet's avatar

Thanks! Yes the winter sky is spectacular!

Michael V. Hawthorne's avatar

Having just seen Orion during a night run. Wow. Pretty beautiful piece.

Jenn's avatar

I really really like this one. Also the image.

erniet's avatar

Thanks!

I used Substack’s image generator with the prompt “Pleiades” for the image

Jenn's avatar

It did remind me of a picture I found once in google images of the Pleiades. This one is a great “riff” on the motif.