—Martha Evans Martin, The Friendly Stars, 1907, 
    revised by Donald Howard Menzel, 1964

To enjoy the constellations one must
Be satisfied not to expect too much of them.

Take them as we do our human friends:
Dragons fixed on the walls of the sky.

They hang during black nights under the dome.
Castor and Pollux. Two lusty-looking

Youths stand with their heads consolidated
Each wearing a star in his eye.

Cepheus: He stands with one foot on Polaris
And his head reaching to Andromeda. This comes

About because of confused mythology.
It has been discovered that Capella is not alone:

Another of nature’s secret doors burst open
By pressure of zealous, untiring workers.

Occasionally one of the fainter stars
Calls for particular attention, as in the case

Of Mira, the Wonderful, in the Whale.
Pegasus: Ever on his back, he goes pawing

Across the heavens and down. The brevity of life,
However, does not stay the inquiring mind.