I saw the moons of Jupiter! The cloth for tea was just laid on, And toasting of the cheese begun, When out of doors I sensed a stir And one child calling "Wait for her! O mother, come and see this star, Brought down as close as lanterns are! And round, like Earth! we knew they were; But think! to see a rounded star! And rounded stars look much more far!" Apron and all I ran to share My boy's great moment. What a night! Frost, a new moon, sweet biting air, And through the telescope, I swear, A fragile berry filled with light! I saw it with these very eyes; With such nearsighted eyes as these, That had been watching bits of cheese, I saw the drop of light that swung Its four faint sailing moons among! (The moons looked only half the size Of scales of minnows.) "And that star Has me transported twice as far As Jupiter from Earth," I said; For in my veins and in my head Great joy and wonder blazed and shone To think what I had gazed upon -- Moons of a planet in the skies Seen with these kitchen-gazing eyes! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A RED, RED ROSE by ROBERT BURNS MONODY ON THE DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. R.B. SHERIDAN by GEORGE GORDON BYRON TO SHAKESPEARE by DAVID HARTLEY COLERIDGE FORGIVENESS by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES THE ANNIVERSARY [ANNIVERSARIE] by JOHN DONNE ODE FOR A SOCIAL MEETING, WITH SLIGHT ALTERATIONS BY A TEETOTALER by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES THE TWELVE-FORTY-FIVE (FOR EDWARD J. WHEELER) by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER |