When John is grown and studies the sky,
Caroline takes some time from her own research
to record his findings as she had for his father.
Later she encourages the young man in his choice
to study math in college,
then to marry a kind, curious woman
who’s quite dazzled by his aunt. The family sails
to southernmost Africa to see stars hidden
beyond the horizon, which John observes and records.
Caroline adds these findings to her charts,
which show 560 new fixed stars, hundreds of double stars
where there had been merely a dozen on old maps.
She creates the first catalog of dark nebulae,
which suggest that stars and the universe change.
What shines is born, transforms, and flickers out.
Where have the comets she first spotted gone?
She doesn’t need to know. Mystery is delicious.