Lights Out Poem by John F. McCullagh

I looked up at the bowl of night
And saw Orion’s form,
But several stars were missing
And the poor hunter looked forlorn.

Alnitak was missing
Betelgeuse was all but gone
Rigel’s star was fading
and would not survive til dawn.

Look there, in Canis major,
A nearby constellation group
Sirius seemed rather dim
The Dog Star began to droop..

Was something tragic happening?
Or was I going blind?
Mother warned about that-
I disbelieved her at the time

I had to find a way to tell
The world the epic news.
These days folks aren’t looking up
Most stare down at their shoes

Like a fire’s dying embers
stars faded from my sight
The Dim stars were completely gone
the others half as bright.

The vast and empty dark of night
Enveloped me in dread.
Would the sun come up tomorrow?
Would we shortly all be dead?

I went to clean my glasses
Before sounding the alarm
It was then that I first noticed
the lenses both were gone.

They had come loose in my pocket
and would need expert repair.
I nearly caused a spectacle-
Thank the Lord I have a spare.