Orion Splintered

springtime
in the northern kingdom
the Pleiades shelter behind the glare
of a temperamental solar veil
Orion hunkers down
spent from the chase
he bides his time ...

a revolving piece of infinity
a glint of a grain
in splintered stardust sand

Orion vows
his chance will come again
the light will fade
Aldebaran will fall to Bellatrix’s arrow
Taurus will finally yield the Way

The huntsmen will have his pick of sisters

the seven laugh
the bull raises his horns in mirth

time is on the marksman’s side
but still    he ages like the rest
the growth will go supernova
Betelgeuse splint a shooting arm
in a gravitational sling
the mighty hunter will loose his aim
submit to inevitability ...

a revolving piece of infinity
a glint of a grain
in splintered stardust sand

...

Afterword

My son and I have taken to astronomy and are now regular visitors to our local planetarium and observatory. I don't know why but there is a thrill to knowing the names of the stellar orbs above. We have spent some time gazing at Orion and his neighboring constellations. Orion is said to chase after the Pleiades, the seven sisters. Soon however Orion and the sisters will retire from the spring and summer skies, not to return until next autumn.

At any time now ... that is any time in the next million years ... the shoulder star Betelgeuse will go supernova and change the look of Orion permanently. I am told Betelgeuse will shine then for two weeks as bright as the moon and will be visible even during the day.

Get a move on Betelgeuse, says I. A supernova is something I definitely want to see.

Photo Attributions

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