Celestial Keyhole Poem by Harley White

Celestial Keyhole

Rating: 5.0

The nebula ‘Keyhole' by Herschel named,
as having an aspect likened to one,
is in the Carina Nebula famed
with myriad splendors in it to stun.

‘Midst section at center the ‘Keyhole' lies
about seven light-years wide and composed
of ionized hydrogen plus likewise
with two main star-forming regions disclosed.

Its nickname by Emma Converse made known
or popularized as term suited best-
but wait, I've discovered stargazers prone
to mix up the nebula ‘Keyhole'- lest

I too become altogether confused,
there's another that's ‘Cosmic Keyhole' tabbed,
and many have seemingly been bemused
plus a different image somehow grabbed.

A keyhole's made for particular key
or might it just be the other way ‘round.
Ideas metaphoric come to me
of mysteries cosmic or on the ground.

So much humans think they've identified,
or will there be changes we know not of?
In science one often takes misplaced pride
on earth as well as in heavens above,

that is, in so called discoveries new,
yet looking back over our history
how much has been shown to be much ado
about nothing, or further mystery

that needs special key to unlock its door,
for as I have said many times before
no matter how great seems our ‘knowledge' store
there e'er everlastingly will be more…

Celestial Keyhole
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
Some sources of inspiration were the following… Light and Shadow in the Carina Nebula (NGC 3372) ~ Hubble Site… Carina Nebula (Wikipedia) … Keyhole Nebula - Facts And Info… Explanation: The dark dusty Keyhole Nebula gets its name from its unusual shape. The looping Keyhole, in this featured classic image by the Hubble Space Telescope, is a smaller region inside the larger Carina Nebula. Dramatic dark dust knots and complex features are sculpted by the winds and radiation of the Carina Nebula's many massive and energetic stars. In particular, the shape of the dust cloud on the upper left of the Keyhole Nebula may stimulate the human imagination to appear similar to, for example, a superhero flying through a cloud, arm up, with a saved person in tow below. The region lies about 7,500 light-years away in planet Earth's southern sky. The Keyhole Nebula was created by the dying star Eta Carina, out of the frame, which is prone to violent outbursts during its final centuries. The Keyhole in the Carina Nebula Image Credit: NASA, Hubble Heritage (AURA/STScI)
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Bill Cantrell 29 January 2024

And as always, you add the human element, great poem

1 0 Reply
Harley White 05 February 2024

Thank you, as always for your comment...

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Bill Cantrell 29 January 2024

Wonderful, yes science always changing or should I say…rearranging our perception,

1 0 Reply
Harley White 05 February 2024

That is a good way to put it...

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