Vampiric Parasite
Who has not seen that, when the moon is bright
And full, it sucks the lustre from the stars
Into itself, leaving them leeched of light
And palely distant, through vampiric force;
But on a moonless night the stars appear
To close with Earth and, in fine brilliance,
Exaggerate their beauties to enhance
Our darkened world and so allay our fear?.
A moonless, starlit night always inspires
In me more deeply contemplative joy
For these celestial, self-giving fires
In their delightful patterns on the sky,
Than I could owe to their huge, boastful, parasite
Whose grace is merely stolen from some richer site.
