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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.
Loved your two sonnets, Sourav. Your words and images took me far away for a few moments.
Thank you, Paul. You are very kind!
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.
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?
I’ve submitted my JWST poem, Sourav.
Let’s see if it gets the nod!
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.
Thank you, Brian, for your perceptive reading of the poems and your kind and encouraging words. I am so glad that you enjoyed them!
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.
Thanks for your comment, Sally. Have noted your suggestion.
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!
Dear Sourav,
Your poems are amazing. I was spellbound by Moonburst that speaks beautifully of another reality. Thanks for sharing your work
You are most welcome, Allegra! Glad you liked the poems.
I thought both poems lovely also, especially the
first with the beautiful images it brings to mind.
Loved the ending of that one too.
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.
Thank you Sourav!
your imagery made new
this tired old heart! Theresa
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.
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.
“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.
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!
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!
Thank you, Susan. So glad you liked it and your appreciation means a lot!
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.
Thank you, Margaret. Your words are really encouraging, though I feel you give me more praise than I deserve!
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!
Thank you, Gary. Happy that you liked them!