A Sky Full of Stars

Articles

Michael John McCrae

A Sky Full of Stars
June 30, 2004

Friday, the 18th of June, was a beautiful night to be standing in the middle of a helicopter landing zone, looking skyward.

No.

My flight never did arrive. In fact, it was the second cancellation in a row; but I really didn't care because after the sun finally stopped baking the world; came the cool evening, desert breeze. When the last of the sunlight faded into another sunset of memory; out came the stars.

Back in my home state of New Jersey there are very few places you can stand and see the fullness of the evening sky. I can remember being in Oklahoma and searching for shooting stars on the many cloudless nights there. Where I am now, there is almost never a trace of cloud in the summer sky; nothing to obscure the absolute grandness of seeing nothing but starlight.

I don't worry about constellations or the Zodiac. I watch the stars for their worth as "eye candy" and the occasional streak of a dying meteorite. I don't concern myself with the so- called "universal mysteries" or debates over life on other planets. The technology is not here - to get us to there; so why concern ourselves with worlds we will never see when this world is the one in need of our attention and care?

The Psalmist wrote: "He determines the number of the stars, and calls each of them by name." (Ps.147:4) And this is why I even bother to look up. the Lord God Almighty placed every one of those stars in the night sky. He knows the title of each and the destiny of each.

Me? I just enjoy looking skyward when the air is clear. Yes, last night was indeed an experience worth having.

"Worlds on Worlds"

Don't blink;
Or you might miss,
The fireworks of this evening's offerings.

Don't breathe.
Just nestle the quiet,
Against your shoulders and to your breast.

Don't boast.
It is not you who've made the stars,
Nor placed them in their bright array.

Be blessed;
In a story not written on papyrus pages;
But on this night's fresh, ebony chalkboard.

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About the Author: Independent, Conservative, Christian. Married with 5 children raised and two grandchildren. Army Veteran and published poet with www.poetry.com since Y2K. Email Michael John McCrae: michael.mccrae@us.army.mil

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