10-CosmosJNB

Are the stars Her rhinestones,

or are rhinestones our stars?

And is He Her Date, Her Paramour,

or Her Modiste, Her Designer?

For that Matter, is the Firmament

a bedsheet, or a gown?

And are we at The Ball

or in The Dream?

And at Midnight—true Midnight—

and Noon—true Noon

like a New or Full Moon

or either holy Solstice—

nadirs, zeniths,

apogees, perigees—

do we start the dream,

the dance, all over,

or wake to start

for the first time

this particular way

this particular day

the enchantment having grown

so much as to make

All bearable, finally,

or its converse, Nothing,

finally,

unbearable?