Leaving the glare of city lights, We drove on dusty mountain roads Into valleys, over passes, Up and down, winding and climbing, Far above, then past the river That carved this part of the world. We sat on the peak at roads end, Speechless, as the fiery sun set. Feeling the cool mountain breezes Penetrate our warm summer selves, We quickly prepared for a show Never seen on theater screen, Or carried on fiber optics To the warm living rooms below. Perched on the left foot, then the right, We began dervishly dancing, Slowly panning the starlit sky In nervous anticipation Of Perseid and his shower. First one, then two, seconds apart From every compass direction Trailing bright and dim, short and long, Across and down the Milky Way. We soon whirled faster and faster In an attempt to miss nothing, Then ultimately closed our eyes In overwhelming exhaustion; Yet even when our eyes were closed The constant light streaks continued Into the depths of deepest sleep. In the beginning time and space Exploded with tremendous force From a microscopic dot To our expanding universe. Today it expands more slowly Searching for its ultimate size, And will one day begin to shrink, Folding again into itself; Into that tiny, timeless dot. Awakened by an eastern glow, I silently ask in wonder: Who will attend the funeral Of the universe when it dies? The forgotten moon is rising, Soon to be followed by the sun; Yet no answer is forthcoming From the quiet, brightening sky.