stargazing

I swear I saw a hemisphere tonight
in nighttime cloudy bas-relief.
From West Pennsylvania to maybe Moscow.
Ocean of dark and stars
Norway, fjords drifting, full of shooting stars,
Ireland, misshapen.
As Washington and Baghdad disappeared behind black trees
Britain whispered "Ave" and melted in the blackout
And I swear the frogs across the pond behind me
Laughed louder; and freedom kissed.

[2005]