bright eyes

someone (me)
had the bright idea
to go stargazing without corrective lenses.
it went
about as well as could be expected:
i.e. dimly,
a blurry sky-slurry,
like someone (god?) spilled water over
early morning’s ink.

i know
the galaxy swirls around us
regardless,
my own myopic eyeballs notwithstanding.
in fact,
most of it remains unseen:
sprawling, prismatic
infrared and infrararin’,
our splendid ‘verse
both visible and veiled.
milky ways
and milky means.
perhaps it’s good
to be reminded –
both of hidden vastness
and light that reaches still –
but also I should probably
get lasik.

Kate makes books out of code for a living and is also a full-spectrum doula. She believes in awe and love and lives in New York City. For more, follow Kate on Instagram @brkate.