Childhood among stars

For Dad

 

Stand there!

He points.

Myself on tip-toes

Desperate to see.

Eye to the telescope.

He turns dials, flicks switches

All is black.

I can’t see.

Hush now,

Just wait.

The dome revolves,

Gears click,

A door opens to let in the moon.

A crescent on its side.

Eye to the telescope.

Bright blue cold hits my eyeball

Cratered details;

A world away brought suddenly close.

My gasp

Echoes across the metalled roof

Refracted;

Reflected;

Magnified.

A recognition

That I am so much smaller

Than I would like to believe.