In ancient days the constellations told
A thousand stories seen in timeless halt
As shining portraits set in heaven's vault
Of mighty beasts and mortal heroes bold:
Orion with his hound and belt of gold,
And godlike Perseus, free of earthly fault
Who saved Andromeda from vile assault:
These icons men did wonder to behold.
Today there is no wondrous realm on high:
The planets are but lumps of rock and ice;
A ball of hydrogen makes up a star.
And clouds of smog obscure the empty sky
Whose erstwhile contents have a worldly price:
The Milky Way is now a chocolate bar.