The Faithful Beauty of the Stars

  

                                                              Constellation of Orion

Winter Stars by Sara Teasdale

I went out at night alone;

 The young blood flowing beyond the sea

Seemed to have drenched my spirit’s wings—

 I bore my sorrow heavily.

But when I lifted up my head

 From shadows shaken on the snow,

I saw Orion in the east

 Burn steadily as long ago.

From windows in my father’s house,

 Dreaming my dreams on winter nights,

I watched Orion as a girl

 Above another city’s lights.

 Years go, dreams go, and youth goes too,

 The world’s heart breaks beneath its wars,

All things are changed, save in the east

 The faithful beauty of the stars.

Soon it will be one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Every day I watch the news about the war. I assumed that the big country would soon overrun the little one, just as it had in Crimea. But I didn't know about the Ukrainians' bravery and determination. They are fighting for the freedom of all countries.

   

   Sara Teasdale's poem was written during WWI, but it is applicable to any war. Our hearts do break. We do care. The years and dreams and beauty of the stars goes on. 💟