I learnt tonight from a book on astronomy

that certain stars are the oldest

and near to extinction... Grateful for the news

I opened the window

and looked for the youngest star... But I could see

only clouds when someone's mean laugh

(like the wind howling in a crematorium chimney)

drove me to find

a star in interstellar space

as dawn was breaking...

O my love, how shall we love and not despair,