"Light
Years"
Copyright©2001, Michael Sorbonne Robinson
The cowboy contemplates on how each burned-out star endures—
how eons hence its darkened end, it shines o'er lake and moors.
It pains him, yet it fascinates, to know that stream of light
may be the mere remainder of a star, once warm and bright.
What moment will it reach its fate, when twinkle ends its flight...
and, even its far-reaching tail's lost in dark of night?
With head propped on his saddle, he reviews the milky way,
and ponders which bright stars, he sees, turned cold some bygone day.