of Western New York State <br />with my big 8x10 Toyo view camera <br />I poked around for beauty. <br />One day by a small river <br />I lifted a rotting black walnut <br />from the ground <br />white worms wiggled inside <br />the dark brown nut-meat <br />and I cradled this minute universe <br />in the palm of my hand <br />meant nothing to them <br />jiggled as before <br />not faster or slower <br />but steadily going about <br />the business of eating: <br />white star worms in the blackness of space. <br />Later driving along Route 15 <br />in the dim twilight <br />the stars happened again <br />when an insect <br />smacked into my windshield and exploded <br />into a phosphorescent green point. <br />I drove on. <br />A second green illumination <br />then another <br />soon the glass pulsated <br />with infinite green lit up specks <br />well, not really, <br />but more than I could count <br />then pulled to the shoulder of the road. <br />Insects no longer alive <br />glowed with residual chemistry: <br />the gentle radiance of green stars. <br />Finally authentic darkness descended <br />and I headed to the Anais Dairy in Avon <br />for a cup of cinnamon ice-cream <br />store still open <br />ordered two scoops <br />sat by the side of that country road <br />and scanned the expanse of heaven: <br />stars without metaphor.<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/roaming-the-rolling-hills/
