The Farthest Lights

At the window by yourself
I’m outside with everyone else
Hold yourself against the chill
And look at me with no expression
In the eyes I know so well
Is a question and a spell
An astronomerall my life
I’ve never seen a light so pale
The night is clear
When the stars appear
I recite their names
The farthest lights
Only now arrive
Wonder how they’ve changed
Everybody says goodbye
Driving off into the night
I look up when the moon comes out
Then shut the gate and go inside
More distant every day
I will ask but you won’t say
Do I watch the sky too much
Familiar and so far away
The stars appeared
But they’re always there
Up above the day
The farthest lights
Take us back in time
Wonder how they’ve changed