1. br Dark Earth itself's br Become a midnight sky, br A Void before a world br Was ever thought. br br Our winged Mother br Purrs from deep inside br And homes her nose br Toward Light, with sight br As sure as angels. br br Here in her womb, br This narrow cave br Of lighted, solid ground, br We fidget and await our birth. br br 2 br br A little galaxy br Comes into view below br Like fading coals br Of memory, br Its tiny constellations br Straining to be seen. br br Almost too dim br To pinpoint, br A spiral nebula br Curls 'round and back br Toward some br Invisible horizon. br br These stars below us br Start to multiply. br We trace br A narrow, spinal cord br Of large, bright ganglia. br br My recognition br Starts to dawn, br Like Ancients bringing br Language from the night. br br Now I can give br These constellations names: br That one is Highway 70. br br We're entering br A Milky Way br Of such Earth-stars, br Too numerous br For eyes to sort br br Except to know br That every star br That pulses radiance br Beams some node br Of human life. br br We come down to br These endless br Possibilities. br br Deplaning, I look up.