teapot of Sagittarius
by Linda Caldwell
wait, scan sky each night
when found, dance
under pin pricks
and patches of pale light
teapot of Sagittarius
tilts above black line
of southern mountains
Lagoon nebula hovers
above spout like steam
as teapot slides down, grieve
leaves shiver, rustle, cascade
Betelgeuse's red eye reaches
above eastern horizon
remembered cold grips bones
look for summer's door
think of teapot
long wait begins again
Copyright © 2003, Linda Caldwell
M8, the Lagoon Nebula
Linda Caldwell lives in Kentucky on the farm that her family has lived on for over one hundred years. She is a daughter and granddaughter of stargazers, so she has been a stargazer all of her life. She was a librarian in Louisville, KY. She has had poetry published in Appalachian Heritage, Appalachian Connections, Wind Magazine, and several regional anthologies. She has upcoming publications in Prairie Schooner and Wild Strawberries.