Mars in Leo II

the planet Mars by Haseeb M on flickr

Driving home from the movie on Saturday night, I looked to the east, and saw something bright rising over the Green Mountains. I knew what it was right away. It was big and had a reddish tinge. It was the planet Mars. It was still in the constellation Leo as it had been when observed in the morning darkness back in November. Back then it just looked like another star, but now you can tell it's a planet.  The best description of Mars I ever read came from a young Vermont poet some years ago. Full moon, the "Snow" moon, is tonight.

ASTROLOGY

by John Kahle

I was not born a believer

in higher beings or mysticism

but tonight I am able to write

because five planets are aligned,

tunnels in the black bone

of the Earth's skull. Emerging

out of blue, Jupiter burns

with dignity. I see Mars

first hand, quivering with scarlet

in the spring air like a tulip.

I can point to Saturn as the Moon

passes, though it is hardly distinctive

from the wash of stars and galaxies,

reduced by distance and detail.

But the borrowed light of Venus

relaxes the light years. It beckons

me and asks steadily if I will be back.

I say I haven't seen Mercury yet,

nor the others vacationing in the south.