Inspired by all three images for Day 12

Our Galaxy, Our Earth

“A galaxy is composed of gas and dust and stars – billions upon billions of stars. Every star may be a sun to someone.”
–Carl Sagan, Cosmos

There are castles and towers to hold and defend,
lighthouse beacons that rise from the sand

whose tiny grains were pounded from rock
then traveled on currents, volcanic shocks

that shifted and shook, forming craggy places
for conquerors and tourists, shell-filled spaces

cherished for history, beauty, charm,
there we walk, arm and arm

with ghosts of ancient people and things
that waft, hover, and take wing

as the sun beats down—our very own star—

Here, we are

the astronomer says, pointing to a tiny dot,
not even a speck, that spot

is our galaxy, and there our sun, please note it can’t be seen–
tinier still, our Earth’s blue and green,