She had only seen it once
on that wind-shredded hillside three years ago
during a residential trip with her music class.
Teachers and students tense against the cold in their raincoats
rustling in the natural silence
which was unnatural to those of them who lived near a major A road.
Teachers and students tipping back their heavy heads
necks aching
eyes straining
everyone looking up.
Millions of silver dots in the night sky.
Sheets upon sheets of light-emitting planets
the nearest winking white
the furthest away fading to black.
But the more she stared the more there were
free at last from their blind veil
of light pollution.
She thought that to look for too long
would be to go mad
with longing
or with realisation
of the insignificance of this moment.
"Look, over there, that's Orion" the teacher said
but all she saw was the universe.
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