Starman

“The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena”Carl Sagan

 

There is a break in the tree line, behind my former home in Oregon, opening onto a secluded path, which winds up into the forested foothills of Mt Hood. I love to walk on moonlit nights, wandering up through the towering trees. About a half mile trek, along the trail, lit by moonlight, filtered dreamlike through the canopy, brings me to a hidden lake. It nestles captivatingly in a clearing, embraced by a stand of proud Ponderosa’s. Secreted loons eerily lodel. The absence of any light pollution, allows the night sky to explode brilliantly, full of stars.

I love to perch on the trunk of a downed cedar, fallen by the lake’s edge. I gaze up into the night sky, expanding out forever above me. The moon paints the intimate woodland dell in a soft sterling glow. It is a serene, almost sacred experience. And the stars, so many stars — billions and billions of stars, sparkling and spangling and glittering to eternity! It is absolutely breathtaking! And this spectacle is captured, in crystalline clarity, by the mirrored surface of the lake. Above me, below me, as far as I can see — star-clustered infinity. I’m transfixed in a dream, lost in time, mesmerized – adrift in the cosmos.

a night sky of stars
reflecting like diamonds
on a mirrored lake

*
rob kistner © 2022

Poetry’s looking up at: dVerse

 

26 thoughts on “Starman”

    1. You are so gracious Jane — thank you… 🙂 I have moved away from that wonderful home, further north, into Seattle area. Still beautiful, but my wife and I will never forget little piece of paradise.

  1. Sadly, where I live, I can barely see the stars due to light pollution. But you took me to this magical place with you with your beautiful prose! A sacred experience, indeed. Thanks for sharing this, Rob.

    1. You are so welcome MJay, and I wish for you that someday you might see deep into the infinity of a perfect night sky my friend — you will gasp with profound wonder, and be breathtakingly humbled! 🙂

  2. In a word, “enchanting”. Those who have never beheld such a scene are poorer in their perspective. Beautifully described, Rob!

  3. I had a hard time getting your site to load, but it was totally worth it, Rob. Such a lyrical, beautiful piece! I can only imagine such a place. Thank you for sharing it. ????

    1. Thank you Merril, very much. I am so thankful that I have had experiences, not just that one but other amazing experiences living here in the Pacific Northwest. All of my years of writing I have, what might be a weakness, and that’s the fact that I perpetually edit everything I write, I still edit songs I wrote back in the 60s. I am just never satisfied with my work. The problem that presents with my website is that if I’m on there editing and updating and improving my work, people can’t get onto the site. So I apologize for that, but it’s something habitual I’ll never be able to break. I used to think I’ll just do it at night, but the problem with that is, when it’s night here, it’s day on the other side of the world. So again, I apologize for making my site inaccessible at times, and I appreciate everybody’s patience. 🙂

    1. As I think you know, we have moved away from that wonderful home, further north, into Seattle area. Still beautiful, but my wife and I will never forget little piece of paradise. It is etched in our souls.

  4. Beautiful! We have very little light pollution here, but no lake to reflect the stars. Sounds magical.

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