Assayer

Assayer

that if we look through flames at people,

quite plainly we shall     see

(between eye and some star):

–

the comet’s flame is like our flames,

with the same nature:

the star’s blaze is a candle’s fire—

both can and we’ll be snuffed.

–

though the blaze be brief

and the fire steady

and because of a day of sunshine

breaking the night better

than overcast years,

be one of the stars,

give not to the fears.

–

we are now only ourselves

—never photographs—

—nor dreams—

—(isolated in time)—

so why look to sea

if ruffled hair

and disorders are all there will be?

instead leave it to others to look on our cowlicked Sundays

for though some stars somewhere are already dark, they burn brightly here.

Hide the Stars

I changed a bit of the poem from what I originally circled, and the punctuation is different, but I tried to keep it close.

Hide the Stars

a poem found in Galileo’s “Assayer”

by William Abernathy

that if we look through flames at people,
we shall see
quite plainly. Did it never enter your head
a flame between the eye and some star…
Surely there is no lack of
a skillful and prudent ex-
perimentalist?

the comet’s flame is like our flames,
a different natre,
our flames are not conclusive.
look at stars
and left out candle-snuffs,

You are obliged to kindle
and to make us see:
I shall be
much less. far away
I am satisfied
In place of the thickness.

to be seen gains an advantage–
let it be one of the stars
through the tail of the comet
brighter than any flame.

And now,
make the star visible
among the most prudent,
But if you fail:
silence, by which
I hope will now take place.