OF THE HABITS OF GEESE AND STARS

Cold geese were screaming
on the solstice lake
at midnight.
And the Great Bear
kept circling, circling
Polaris.

But the night is quiet now.
Somewhere the geese have settled
into goosely resignation,
and the Great Bear circles
unperturbed.

Do you never tire, Bear,
of the ancient track?
Do you never want
to leave the march,
go somewhere and settle
with a blanket and a brandy
and tell old stories
of constellar courage?

But on you go, stars,
circling, circling — yes,
and in the morning
cold geese will scream again.

               Ted Black, 12/23/2013