The first thing I learned was to look wide
at the darkness
and not want anything. He’d say, Just look
at the darkness
and tell me what you see. I’d say, I see stars or
Just the stars, Dad.
And he’d say, Don’t call them that yet. What do you see?
Just the stars, Dad.
But then I’d be quiet and let my eyes go and look wide
at the darkness.
It was like a dome. I think it frightened me to stare
at the darkness.
I see light. I see a million little lights. And he’d say
They aren’t all stars.
Some were planets and some were planes and I’d say, Yeah,
they aren’t all stars.
But not really believe it. But say it so not to feel stupid out there
in the darkness.
from Rocket FantasticFind it in the library
Copyright © Persea Books 2017
Used with the permission of The Permissions Company, Inc.
on behalf of Persea Books.
