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Moonburst

I saw a comet streak across the night,
And rend the sky with fire-tipped harpoon;
While stars went out in fits of astral fright,
The comet struck and burst the silver moon.
The moon came down in shards of silver ice,
In million bolts that pierced the trembling earth;
And where each fell a magic tree did rise,
Upon its branches silver fruit took birth.
I plucked a fruit and held it in my hand:
A lucent orb that felt as light as air.
There I stood transfixed in silver beams, and—
What happened next alas I’m not aware:
__For that is when I woke from slumber deep.
__Or, could it be that then I fell asleep?

.

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To a Space Telescope

inspired by the images from
the James Webb Space Telescope

A million miles from your own launching place,
‘Round solar orbit at Lagrange’s post,
You peer into the wells of time and space,
To capture beams from reaches furthermost.
In your despatches wondrous scenes arrive:
Of nature’s womb where stars are born and nursed,
Of galaxies that dance in groups of five,
And dying stars in clouds of rage immersed.
Yet greater mysteries does the cosmos hide,
To fathom which our hearts shall ever yearn.
In this our quest for long may you abide,
From stars we come, to stars your gaze must turn.
__But in the vein of Keats let this be said:
__The Poetry of space is never dead.

.

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Sourav Sengupta is an architect by training and a human resource manager by profession. He lives and works in Kolkata, India.

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25 Responses

  1. Paul Buchheit

    Loved your two sonnets, Sourav. Your words and images took me far away for a few moments.

    Reply
  2. Paul Freeman

    What an intriguing flight of fancy Moonburst is, with a thought-provoking last couplet to boot. I was reminded at the beginning of the fantastic Hale Bopp Comet back in ’97, one of those once in a lifetime events.

    And indeed, ‘The poetry of space is never dead.’ I too was so impressed by the James Webb Telescope that I wrote a sonnet about it! You’ve captured your own wonder perfectly.

    Thanks for the reads, Sourav.

    Reply
    • Sourav Sengupta

      Thank you, Paul. I am so glad (or rather relieved) that the couplet in Moonburst landed well! The thought came to me from a talk I heard on a particular verse from one of the Upanishads (ancient Vedic texts) that explores the nature of sleep, dreams and reality. Also, would love to read your sonnet on the JWST. Is it published here?

      Reply
      • Paul Freeman

        I’ve submitted my JWST poem, Sourav.

        Let’s see if it gets the nod!

  3. Brian Yapko

    Sourav, I enjoyed both of these astronomical poems tremendously — especially the mysterious but beautiful “Moonburst” with its unexpected meditation on the very nature of reality. “To a Space Telescope” moves smoothly from the telescope to the cosmic subject matter to the yearning of the human heart. It’s wonderful! Thank you for these.

    Reply
  4. Sally Cook

    Dear Sourav —
    Your imagery in the poem “Moonburst” is beautiful, and the ending deserving of thought, But line eleven is awkward and could be improved by more consideration of the meter.

    Instead of:
    I plucked a fruit and held it in my hand:
    A lucent orb that felt as light as air
    There I stood transfixed in silver beams, and—

    Why not:
    I plucked a fruit and held it in my dreams:
    A lucent orb that felt as light as air
    I stood there transfixed in its silvery beams —

    That way the accents of the meter fall in place.
    I offer this in the spirit of friendship. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
      • Margaret Coats

        Sourav, I just realized why the “and” stands (and must stay) in line 11 of “Moonburst,” even though it is extrametrical. It is your emphatic way of making the sonnet turn (at a most unusual place for the volta). There the poem very obviously breaks, to begin consideration of the nature of what has been described. That is also why you could not want “dreams” in line 9, because the last lines leave the question of sleep or waking undecided. Bold technique!

  5. Allegra Silberstein

    Dear Sourav,
    Your poems are amazing. I was spellbound by Moonburst that speaks beautifully of another reality. Thanks for sharing your work

    Reply
  6. jd

    I thought both poems lovely also, especially the
    first with the beautiful images it brings to mind.
    Loved the ending of that one too.

    Reply
  7. Norma Pain

    I also loved your poems Sourav. So descriptive, Moonburst took me on a journey through the cosmos and made me wish for such wonderful dreams as these.

    Reply
  8. Theresa Dould Cummings

    Thank you Sourav!
    your imagery made new
    this tired old heart! Theresa

    Reply
  9. Cheryl Corey

    Sourav, how nice to read your sonnets on the cosmos. I recently perused some astronomy magazines from the library. The number of stars in the universe is mind-boggling. I love to look at images of galaxies. I may be mistaken, but I think the blue color is due to helium. Red and pink from oxygen, maybe? But perhaps someone with greater knowledge will comment. Thanks.

    Reply
  10. Kunal Lal

    Your poems create such vivid imagery! You are an artist painting beautiful pictures with your words. Always a treat reading them! Looking forward to the next few.

    Reply
  11. Roy E. Peterson

    “Moonburst” intrigues the senses with bright and brilliant images. “To a Telescope” that ties into the poetry of Keats on space and yearning to understand provides a great backdrop anchored by the words, “Yet greater mysteries does the cosmos hide…” Both poems are excellent renditions.

    Reply
  12. Tashi

    Your poetry is sublime, Mr Sengupta. Your words inspire us to reflect on the mysteries of this vast universe — invitingly in skillful verse. Looking forward to more of your work… sky is the limit for you!

    Reply
  13. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Sourav, both poems are exquisite and offer a wealth of admirable and inspirational images that burst from the page in their bold beauty. I especially love the pinch of philosophy in the closing couplet of “Moonburst”. Thank you!

    Reply
  14. Margaret Coats

    Sourav, the telescope sonnet is a good poem on a modern topic, but I find “Moonburst” truly spectacular. Not only do you create a cosmic spectacle, but the whole is reasonably and properly yet surprisingly explained as a possible dream. This allows it, with all its scientific modernism, to belong to a classic category that spans all of English literature–from dream visions of the Middle Ages to more recent psychological poems. Congratulations on taking your place within a very ancient tradition of human artistry with words.

    Reply
  15. Gary Borck

    Both of your sonnets are outstanding Sourav and are a delight to read. The flow and metre and powerful images painted, come together well.

    The skill and craft in these two poems are admirable.

    Thank you, Sourav!

    Reply

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