“Before Magellan Mapping Mission” by Maurine Haltiner
One November evening Grandmother
introduces me to Venus.
She points west
through box elder branches
spider-webbing star shine. The planet brags
above the horizon. She says its name
as if it belongs to her, as if
she is sowing a piece
in my hands.
We inhale its brilliance while
the quarter moon delights
with a slice of white. Make no mistake—
Love is light.
A year later I place a puff & box
of scented powder in her hand. She pats
away a wrinkle (or two), as if preparing
to stroll out in style, as if each breath
is not a labored stretch
of fixed time.
I want to open blinds, windows,
invite Venus in
where Grandmother lies, eyes
closed to star specks
of afterlife.
Today, Earth rolls over after half sleep.
I catch the last lick of Venus
as step-dancing robins worm
edged lawn, near
etched stone—make no mistake—
Love is (not) light.
* The Magellan spacecraft was a NASA robotic
space probe launched May 4, 1989, to map the
surface of Venus
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Maurine Haltiner Artist Statement:
I taught high school English for 33 years. One day, I completed a poetry assignment with my students. They were kind critics. I now have three published books, A Season and a Time and Every Angle of Moonshine (poetry), and Truth Windows (YA novel). I play the violin.
