the position of stars
resolutely they stand
at the nexus of heaven and earth
pondering the hardships preceding this great banquet of Life,
where the perfumed air and sweet fruits have now become their feast
as it will be for ensuing worlds
and subsequent souls,
who, like us,
will have traveled through destined times,
who will hope (as those earlier)
to leave the wheel to find the hub,
who will wish to extinguish the lights of the city to see,
whose forebearers had evolved from knowledge and suffering
selflessly shouldering the center tent pole all through the night,
bracing it while the others slept,
and, who like us,
aspire to learn
saving just one soul
saves the whole world.
Maricopa, Arizona
February 14, 2020