Applied Astronomy

HE took me out to see the stars,
That astronomic bore;
He said there were two moons near Mars,
While Jupiter had four.

I thought of course he’d whisper soon
What fourfold bliss ’twould be
To stroll beneath that fourfold moon
On Jupiter with me.

And when he spoke of Saturn’s ring,
I was convinced he’d say
That was the very kind of thing
To offer me some day.

But in a tangent off he went
To double stars. Now that
Was most suggestive, so content
And quite absorbed I sat.

But no, he talked a dreary mess,
Of which the only fraction
That caught my fancy, I confess,
Was “mutual attraction.”

I said I thought it very queer
And stupid altogether,
For stars to keep so very near,
And yet not come together.

At that he smiled, and turned his head;
I thought he’d caught the notion.
He merely bowed good-night and said,
Their safety lay in motion.

Esther B. Tiffany.