Stars

Margaret Wheatley • 1944-

note: In a clear night sky, for every star we see, there are at least 50 million more behind it.

In places where air still offers clarity,
stars sing a siren song from space
in the bright night.

Lying on soft earth,
carried into sky by longing,
humans respond to stars
with questions. Why is the Universe
so vast? Why are we so small?

Call and response through the night.

My whole life I have sent
these questions into space. And
listened for response.

Then sky wakens and star song fades.
Humans forget mystery and get on with living.
But the stars, the stars
keep calling. No response.

Why is it that we call to
stars only with science and insignificance?

On the next bright night,
find the clear air and ask again.
Humans, ask again. Who are we?
What is our place in mystery?

Perhaps you will hear what I
have heard, a song of inner
radiance.

For the stars,
the stars are calling

saying we must
turn to one another
turn to one another and see
finally see
the stars everywhere.

Published in Turning to One Another, 2009

Photo by Bruce Gueswel