the silent sharer

round white barrenbright
afloat above this blackwater night
blankfaced bored unblinking

upon us here below
faces raised up to and lit
in your reflected light

knowing you’ve already
been looked up to by gautama
galileo caesar vangogh

longwitness to our little history
and the numberless nights that came
before the little we remember

they say you’re a piece of us
ripped away in some longgone
violent collision with something

involuntary exile
chained constant companion
reluctant common mirror

reflecting us reflecting upon
this dead and frozen face we’re shown
close but cold aloof alone

gathering up your clouds now
like some ancient queen her robes
to softly quietly disappear in rain

1969