Tom Cunningham Poet Rubaiyat

Notes About The Poem

Written On The 16th January 2026
For 2026-01-15 Write a Beautiful Rubaiyat Poem Poetry Contest.

Sponsored By Constance La France 

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Observing The Sky At Night

There is nothing more breathtaking than a clear sky at night when the wonders of creation are above you.
Quote by poet.




Natures wonders are on display
But are not seen in bright of day
So venture out in dark of night
I'll guarantee you'll want to stay. 

Sparkling diamonds on a clear night
A full moon too shining so bright
Meteors too streaking brightly 
The night sky is an awesome sight.

Those brighter lights that you will see
Are the planets in perigee
You'll need a telescope I fear 
When they're far out in apogee.

Winter's best when the skies are clear 
Wrap up well keep a warm drink near
When dawn comes the show is over
The moon and stars now disappear.

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Rachel Treacher March 31, 2026 at 2:41 AM Yesterday our local area experienced a power cut, which meant that all the stars switched on. Thank you for reminding us to look out into the dark. Tom Cunningham March 31, 2026 at 2:51 AM Thank you Rachel, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Having moved from a city over 30 years ago I was amazed how much of the night sky was visible, you sometimes see images taken from space and everywhere looks like Blackpool illuminations. Tom

Constance La France February 21, 2026 at 7:30 PM Tom, wonderfully penned and congratulations on your win in my contest, Write a Beautiful Rubaiyat (My Version). I like your quote, Constance Tom Cunningham February 22, 2026 at 4:02 AM Thank you very much Constance. I'm happy you enjoyed it. Thank you too for giving your valuable time to host the contest. Have a lovely weekend. Tom

Sara Kendrick February 21, 2026 at 4:25 AM Creative winning work in Constance's contest. Way to go. Back to say congratulations to you. Sara K Tom Cunningham February 21, 2026 at 4:37 AM Thank you for your return visit and congratulations Sara, hope you're keeping well, have a lovely weekend. Tom

Valsa George February 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM So beautiful is your poem as the night sky. Your images twinkle like stars. I have absorbed the loveliness of the night through your poem. All the best dear Tom. Tom Cunningham February 9, 2026 at 2:11 AM Thank you very much Valsa, the night sky has always fascinated me. I hope you are keeping well. Tom

Sam Kauffman January 30, 2026 at 11:13 AM Tom, I feel like I am standing with you totally enchanted by the night sky and all of its celestial wonders! I have always loved watching the miraculous and mysterious night sky. Beautifully written with wonderful creative rhyme scheme. Best wishes for the contest! Over Fork Over! Tom Cunningham January 30, 2026 at 1:11 PM Thank you very much Sam, the night sky never fails to fascinate me. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Over Fork Over. Tom

Eve Roper January 29, 2026 at 9:32 AM Great feeling and imagery on your poem, " Observing The Sky At Night". It's been cold and all I grave is something warm to drink or eat like oatmeal or cream of wheat. Tom Cunningham January 29, 2026 at 10:44 AM Thank you very much Eve, there's no better view on a clear night. Tom

Linda Alice Fowler January 27, 2026 at 6:38 AM Winter skies are in my eyes after this celestial write Tom. Fascinating and evoke a deep curiosity of the unknown (as well as the depths of the sea). Thank you and GL in the contes. :) Tom Cunningham January 27, 2026 at 8:44 AM Thank you very much Linda, I’ve always been fascinated by the night sky since I was a boy, never tire of looking up. The depths of the ocean too fascinate me, what lies beneath.. Tom

James Peranteau January 21, 2026 at 10:31 AM i were sadden'd dear poet, not tuh hear 'your voice'...mine hear were all prep'd tuh hear the astute he belt uv this awesome write...i read it and enjoy'd...i'm particularly interest'd in mercury furthest from thuh sun....yeah, thuh starz are simply beautiful sparkling...thuh moon at times scare'z me....lol...ty....much love Tom Cunningham January 21, 2026 at 2:07 PM Thank you very much James, without doubt the heavens on a clear night are amazing to observe, a telescope shows so much more,rings of Saturn, moons of Jupiter and faint galaxies that you wouldn't see with the naked eye, I have yet to find Mercury though. Tom

James Peranteau January 21, 2026 at 9:57 AM

Joanna Daniel January 19, 2026 at 8:35 AM I agree with CayCay, a lovely sight indeed,Tom, checked out those two words myself too:) Tom Cunningham January 19, 2026 at 8:46 AM Thank you Joanna, ever since I was a boy The night sky has fascinated me. Hope your week is off to a good start. Tom

Tania Kitchin January 18, 2026 at 1:30 PM Tom, wonderfully penned and with vibrant imagery. Best of luck in the contest. Tom Cunningham January 18, 2026 at 2:14 PM Thank-you very much Tania .best of luck to you too Tom

Andrea Dietrich January 18, 2026 at 11:07 AM Very nice seeing you and others try this unique form. I need your inspiration to get busy on one myself. Great job , Tom Tom Cunningham January 18, 2026 at 11:31 AM Thank you Andrea, before I joined soup I thought all poems rhymed, it certainly opened my eyes when I saw all the different forms. Tom

Lin Lane January 18, 2026 at 10:47 AM And no matter how far, their lights still shine like no other. Very well constructed, Tom. Tom Cunningham January 18, 2026 at 11:24 AM Thank you very much Lin, I’m happy you enjoyed it. It’s a view I never get tired of looking at. Tom

CayCay Godwin January 18, 2026 at 7:43 AM I often wonder about the night sky early man viewed and suspect it was more magnificent than even my vivid imagination sees. I think to see such would take my breath away in the grandest way. I had to look up perigee and apogee because I've a thing about knowing words, imagine that, and Webster's definition required heavy math to break down, maybe because I've not finished my coffee, it was funny. What I'm saying is this is a splendid transport to poetic skies. A 'pleasure read', Tom. Tom Cunningham January 18, 2026 at 10:47 AM Thank you very much Caycay, I'm happy that you enjoyed it I was on the west coast of Ireland many years ago and went outside, I'll never forget that view, the stars were like diamonds on a black velvet cloth sadly light pollution obscure the view now and you have to go to remote places to really appreciate it. What's on my bucket list is to go to Iceland to see the northern lights, my daughter saw them there a few years ago. Hope your weekend is going well. Tom

Gershon Wolf January 17, 2026 at 8:25 PM Maybe there's a future for you as a ticket salesman to sky-shows, Tom. I'm ready to buy for myself and the family! ~ Astro-nut Tom Cunningham January 17, 2026 at 9:43 PM Lol Thanks Gershon, I've reserved front seats for you. Tom

Duke Beaufort January 17, 2026 at 12:53 PM Ah Tom, you have the soul of an astronomer or perhaps an Ancient one. Indeed, this is something few people appreciate these days. The vastness of the universe astounds! Smiles!! Tom Cunningham January 17, 2026 at 1:14 PM Thank you Duke, the night sky fascinates me and I never get tired of looking up. Always look out for the space station when it flies over the uk.Ive got a telescope and seen galaxies beyond ours ,Jupiter moons and the rings of Saturn. Tom

David Crandall January 17, 2026 at 12:53 PM Great poem, here in L.A., where I live, there's a lot of light pollution, but out in the desert, all of a sudden, there's a hundred times more stars. I used to have a home telescope - that was fun. Tom Cunningham January 17, 2026 at 1:16 PM Thank you David. The night sky always facinates me. Sadly many in large towns and cities never get a chance to see what's above them. The light pollution is getting worse. Tom

Sara Kendrick January 17, 2026 at 4:57 AM We've got solid clouds with rain today, Tom, which began in the night so no night show last night. Thanks for sharing this nice work with us. It's been a long time since I was out at night for a very long time. I like early morn and sunsets though. Sara K Tom Cunningham January 17, 2026 at 6:39 AM Thank you Sara, love going out any time of the year as with the rotation of the earth new constellations come into view. Have a lovely weekend. Tom

Abdullah Alhemaidy January 16, 2026 at 9:50 PM Observing The Sky At Night! What a lovely write!! Tom Cunningham January 16, 2026 at 10:32 PM Thank you Abdulla, there's nothing more rewarding to gaze up at the wonders of creation. Enjoy your weekend. Tom

Janice Canerdy January 16, 2026 at 3:25 PM Tom, this is an excellent poem~~skillfully composed, vividly descriptive, and very expressive. Janice Tom Cunningham January 16, 2026 at 9:10 PM Thank you Janice, I'm pleased that you enjoyed it. Enjoyed your weekend. Tom

Paula Goldsmith January 16, 2026 at 1:13 PM WOW!!! I enjoyed reading your lovely "Observing The Sky At Night" write. Great Picture/Ending... I love seeing the night sky in all of her beauty. "Good Luck" I did "A Very Special Valentine's Day." Have a blessed day/week writing away................. Tom Cunningham January 16, 2026 at 1:58 PM Thank you Paula,I'm happy that you enjoyed it. Valentines day will soon be with us. Christmas seems weeks ago now. Hope you're keeping well and have a lovely weekend. Tom

Kim Rodrigues January 16, 2026 at 12:54 PM When nightfall comes venture outside I'll guarantee you'll want to stay. But sure is cold out there right now! My best view of the stars was many years ago when we were on our way to Carlsbad Caverns. It was a place that gave me and my husband goosebumps like you could really see aliens coming down…lol. Wonderful write, Tom! Tom Cunningham January 16, 2026 at 1:03 PM Thank you very much Kim, sounds like you had a close encounter, it's okay if they're like ET lol. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Tom