GREEN STAR

1.

Knowing stars are sparks off the anvil of heaven

and starfish the stars that fall to sea

we should not be surprised after sipping

wine pressed from sea grapes

to see the cat’s blue eyes turn green

when he perches on the girl’s shoulder

and gazes through the skylight at Scorpius

where Antares the red star looms

beside the only green star known to man

Vespertilio

2.

While the name

Green Star

has been conferred on

ocean liners

airplanes

& guided missiles

motor oils

condoms

& colognes

comic strips

wine bars

& cable cars

please note

that the ancient astronomers

who described Antares

as green were correct:

when interstellar winds

(of which they knew nothing)

sweep across it

the red star Antares

reflects the pigment

of its green twin

unique in our galaxy

Vespertilio