As mysterious as a comet

Streaking across the blackness -

Hale-Bopp in 1998

Then returning to the oort cloud in silence

To contemplate Earth's progress

From 200 billion miles away.

Then sending other observers

To check on our well-being occasionally.

After all, where did it come from? -

All these planets, suns, moons, asteroids?

Where did these galaxies originate?

And no one can ever answer

Though many sight God -

And the rest of us wonder

What does that word mean?

Is it the answer

When there is no other answer -

When all logic and experience fail?

Or is it the origin of everything

And the center of everyone?

We look around vainly

Thinking an answer will come -

Be delivered to us, one by one -

Where to go, what to do

When the heat goes away

And all is ice

Pluto and Chiron in an embrace.

Devoid of movement

The mind concentrates,

In the center, is light.

It animates the flesh

With its hope and insights.