—Martha Evans Martin, who seemed lonely in The
    Friendly Stars, 1907, revised by Donald Howard
    Menzel, 1964

A window in my bedroom opens towards
The northeast. Many times I have suddenly 
Opened my eyes in the night. Betelgeuse
Pushes its red face up over the horizon.

            One begins in February to watch the handle
            Of the Dipper, so clearly pointing to something
            Important just below the horizon.

            It has pulled into the view the steady
            Shining face of Arcturus. The hawks
            And crows among the high trees.

There comes a soft June evening. The blue
Jays have become stealthy. One walks
To the end of the porch and looks for Altair.

            Orion. We watch for it in October.
            One jewel after another emerges
            From the storehouse below the horizon until
   
            The whole splendid figure is before us
            We remember then that the juncos
            Came that day and we heard them.

The birds have ceased to sing and are seeking
Shadows. Fomalhaut the lonely:
When the days are growing shorter, some evening.

Just after dark, one sees it, trailing
Over the small arc of its circle
With no companion near it, and no need.