Always and instantly

        Always and instantly 


On a clear night

before the moon has risen

and the sky is sparkling

I yawn and draw the curtain 

and climb into bed


I do not consider the fact 

that I have carelessly blocked photons which may have originated

during the time that 

multicellular life evolved 

here on earth

a half billion years ago

or when the solar system formed

about four billion years ago

or perhaps when

the universe was born

nearly fourteen billion years ago


Light travels

at the speed of light

so for the photons

of which it is comprised

time is standing still

and hence

the photons are ageless


For a photon originating

sixty five million years ago

coincident with 

the dinosaur extinction

and reaching our telescope today

the entire experience

is instantaneous


Aubrey Lieberman

9/16/23


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