Ghostly Tale Poem by Harley White

The faint apparition ‘Little Ghost'
situated in Ophiucus
once had a bright central star to boast,
though now white dwarf in core innermost
surrounded by layers caducous.

That dying orb at its ghostly heart
foretells the destiny of our sun,
which too may become like abstract art,
still for the time being worlds apart
from the cloudy rings this star has spun.

A ‘planetary nebula' called
by William Herschel, a term ill-fit,
albeit the name is well-installed,
for while resembling a sphere as sprawled,
planets have nothing to do with it.

Too small a supernova to be,
as is our own shining solar source,
with stars lacking mass for ‘super' spree,
yet they make a contribution key
to galactic evolution's course.

Although appearing like astral shrouds
which mark a mammoth stellar demise,
the heavy elements in these clouds
are reused far from our madding crowds
so that new creations might arise.

Akin to spooky ghost stories told,
NGC Six Three Six Nine labeled
has look of eye eerie with stare bold,
a coda to brilliant days of old,
midst ‘serpent-bearer' grouping fabled.

Last gasps of the star are clearly shown
in the Hubble image presented,
each outer shell portraying a moan,
as into space its strata are blown,
perhaps leaving kingdoms lamented.

What ghostly visions might meet that eye
while dissipating off into space—
doomed beings in throes of anguished cry,
bewailing fate at final goodbye,
to die with nary a telltale trace?

Are we too a cautionary tale,
bequeathing only our species' death
as warning of greed on massive scale
that could earthly hopes and dreams derail,
like ‘overambition' of Macbeth,
which seems among earthlings to prevail?

The Little Ghost phantom, so they say,
after ten thousand years on the scene,
will disperse its bands of gas astray;
then in millions more the star's display
that's cooled to ember on cosmic screen
shall at last wink out and pass away…

Sometimes I dream of a future age
when life's brief candle again may burn
casting novel actors, far more sage,
scripted with wisdom on every page,
who seek after truth and truly yearn
to play praiseworthy roles on their stage!