Each day as the day dawns bright and clear
The Astronomer, ever eager to view the glories of the heavens
Hopes that the clear skies will hold.
Each evening as the sun descends it's heavenly track
and the skies begin to darken
He's there at the window checking to ensure
That the view to the sky is clear
As evening wears on, the jobs at home complete
One final check out the window is done
Yes, the skies are clear
With uplifted spirit of the joys to behold
He gathers together his Optical tools
reference works and protection from the cold
Out into the night, wrapped up tight
He sets out all the gear
to prepare for a night of fine viewing of
Heavenly Objects of wonder
The mount is leveled first,
then the scope aligned
All ready to go, all lights off, heavenward he stares
As his eyes adjust, the scope has cooled
he's ready now to begin
to hunt for dim and distant things from millions of years ago
In the darkness, sights appear in the telescope
Great nebulae and Galaxies
Are found and studied more
Each one giving a new found lift as his spirit starts to soar
Then onto open clusters, Diamond stars sparkling clear
Spreading their patterns across the view
The Seven Sisters and the Beehive
Falling headlong into the well of stars
Revealed in this tube of wonders
Gathering light from far afield
Lifting him in flight
As night wears on, more objects seen
The study continues on
The moon appears and beckons forth
As she washes the skies with light
So on he goes and studies she, that hovers o'er the night
The filters placed in the path to cut down her dazzling light
And what a sight she makes, this nearby heavenly partner
As she dances onward in her monthly path
Craters and Mare upon her face reveal the passage
Of times great dance
Throughout the planetary system of our small region
After hours of watching her startling face
and noting down craters and features
He moves on to one final sight of the night
A stunning queen in her own right
So near yet far away crowned in a halo of icy rings
Saturn supports the king of beasts
Below mighty Leo there she sits
with attendant moons circling bright
A wow, A gasp is always heard, when she comes in sight
Many a moment is spent
watching this astonishing sight
as flickers of more detail leap and dance
as seeing moves the night
Noting all the wonders seen to share with others once all is done
the wondrous night has faded with dawnlight glimmering
Tired and cold yet feeling able to fly
He gathers up the tools of the night
and climbs the stairs to bed.
