Legacy of Light
One by one, extinguished stars return
to take their places in the fallen night;
So long defunct, yet they faintly burn
_in constellated webs of light.
Imploded vanishings of dust and gas,
from cold abysses of the infinite
broadcasting their ghostly lives across
_appropriated years of light;
illusions destined to impermanence,
black absences that linger on in sight,
while disinheriting the firmament
_bequeath a legacy of light.
One by one, old poets’ voices fail;
seers grow blind, with so much yet to write.
But still their visions glimmer through a veil
_as points of intellectual light
that reach from pen to eye across the years
of intervening literary night.
For thoughts, once uttered, do not disappear;
_and words are messengers of light.
Martin Briggs lives in Suffolk, England. He only began writing in earnest after retiring from a career in public administration, since when he has been published in various publications on both sides of the Atlantic.
Martin, what a beautiful way to express the written visions of poets with “literary thoughts, once uttered, do not disappear!”
Thanks Roy. Yes – though thoughts can be good or bad, of course.
Martin, your connecting poetic voices to the endless stars is very unique, and very thought-provoking.
Thank you, Paul, for reading and commenting.
A great metaphor for artistic afterlife: poets vanish, but their words continue traveling, undimmed by time.
Yes – fingers crossed! Thanks Michael.
What a fine last line! “Words are messengers of light.” So true so many times in my own life.
Thank you Jeff. I’m pleased if this piece struck a chord for you,
> thoughts, once uttered, do not disappear;
_and words are messengers of light.
Beautiful Martin,
and timely for me as I have been finding huge comfort in audio versions of some of C.S Lewis’s books..
and print editions of some Tolkien and G.K Chesterton’s wonderful short essays; “Tremendous Trifles”
These essays, “Leaf by Niggle” ,”The Narnia Chronicles”, “The Cosmic Trilogy” and “The Screwtape Letters ”
are beacons which help us better see a dark world. As though Lewis , Tolkien and Chesterton has time travelled especially to give us comfort in this dark age.
warmest regards,
Karen
*********
Karen, it looks as if our literary tastes coincide. I’m a huge admirer of CSL; and I believe I possess everything GKC ever published in book form. Keep reading and listening.
A wonderful analogy, Martin. The lines ‘broadcasting their ghostly lives across / appropriated years of light’ really resonated. It really is a quite fantastical notion that so many of the stars and galaxies we see are long dead, but their light is still bright from our miniscule perch in the universe.
Thanks for the read.
Thanks for commenting, Paul. Yes, it’s one of those phenomena which really strike us when we stop to think about them – which is not often enough.
The science of astronomy expands to contemplation of cosmology in your splendid poem, Martin. Not to mention the earthly undertones of inheritance, all connected by operations of law not fully known. The work is rich and satisfying.
Thank you, Margaret. I’m glad you approve!
Martin, thank you for this thoroughly engaging poem. It’s beautiful. I especially like the elegiac and contemplative tone which speaks touchingly of the brevity of life, while celebrating the afterglow of creativity. The varying views of light in the last line of each stanza are a wonderful touch. Such is the power of your words, you have me hoping my poetic afterglow will be visible to all stargazers long after my earthly departure.
Thank you Susan. If your work doesn’t survive, I see little hope for the rest of us….
I agree; this is a meaningful metaphor, beautifully fleshed out. It is helpful to recall that our poetry may shine on to benefit future readers long after we have left earth.
Thank you, Cynthia, for your appreciation and encouragement. It’s good to know that others feel the same.
Martin, your brilliant poem will most certainly have immortality.
I didn’t have my own work in mind when writing this, Margaret; but it’s kind of you to say so!
I love both the metaphor and the message of this poem. Your stars are not those of mythology, but of astronomy, yet with them you still forge poetry.