smile.

I was mesmerized in 2004 by a photograph snapped

by the Cassini Probe which spotted the pinprick of Earth

through the rings of Saturn.

The more I concentrated on the image the more enchanted I became.

––What was I doing when Cassini flashed its picture for all to see?

––Was I asleep dreaming of another event or sitting on the loo,

due to an unusual midnight run?

––Was it the night of Bernadette hissing in the secret closet through

her vinyl flesh because the bicycle patch had failed us both?

––How am I to understand what to me must now be regarded as truth?

In a time gone by, Fred Stillskin, my high school science teacher refused to admit

that our Sun was a “mere star” pontificating on the "personal" importance

of the Sun, whereas other stars were puny and simply hung with no responsibilities.

The years have marched-on in their crazed assault, and Fred is long dead.

Peer review of the “Stillskin Treatise” has yet to be considered due to a universal

lack of interest.