“S” is for Spiraling Stars and Galaxies

I would like to share two of Russ’ poems with you in this blog entry. The first, Spiraling Stars and galaxies, shows Russ’ great love for astronomy. He told me that his mother was one of the first women in the United States to build her own telescope, and though he only learned about this as an adult, he inherited this love from her.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 The Spiraling Stars and Galaxies

                            The spiraling stars and galaxies

care not one whit if you or I

survive, prosper

or were never born.

 

The python. Tiger and bacterium

In equal share

Have similar intent

 

And so it falls to us

formed by God and nature impelled

to care, or merely exist.

 

3/02 

The second poem, although it doesn’t begin with ‘S’ is still a very beautiful poem; in fact I think it may be the most beautiful of all. He wrote it shortly after 9/11, where he lost two of his best friends. He has shared this poem several times, but I believe he would be happy to share it here with you.

HANDS

 

I am the Old one

The one of many colors

I speak with many tongues

I speak with one voice:

I am the giant once sleeping

my steel-slit eyes now focused

beware!

For on this day now done I rise

I rise with many ready hands

full  firm

lament!

 

And, to my fallen children I say

God has many more hands than I

and with His hands He will lift you

 

As my hands, my many colored hands

squeeze and shatter

Those who took His children…

 

 

9-16-01 (29)

 

©Copyright by Mary Purpari and Russ Kelly April 22, 2014 “S” is for Spiraling Stars and Galaxies