Star Paths:

A poem I shall attempt to write of heavenly delight, About all the wonders that shine deep in the night. There is so much more than the Moon and stars above, From the earliest navigators that fell heavily in love. All those that sailed across all the known seas, They all relied on the stars and many of these. Often they would follow the morning and evening star, Just one of five planets that they knew of so far. Mostly guided by many and many they certainly knew, Galileo saw much beauty in the Southern Cross too. The Earth spinning at one thousand and forty miles per hour, Still, they could master the art of using star power. So what could they do when a storm came through? Just stay at the helm and keep the wheel true. And what could they do if the wind blew them off course? Pray to the heavens that their sails could take the force. For life as a sailor meant much more than hard labour, They had to read stars in constellations to favour. Forty-eight constellations before eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, They existed well before the others gathered at a later date. Then becoming eighty-eight constellations for a general to know, And used the Pole Stars that never disappeared as they go. Using particular stars that would always rise and set, Knowing portside and starboard and which side they met. In the third century BC, the Greeks used the Little Bear, These days called Ursa Minor, now navigated from there. Once Draco was closest to the North Pole than Polaris, Between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor are the stars over Paris. The sextant became the most used instrument for navigation, Before then they had to understand the winds interpretation. Today a compass is used with the true direction of North, Every ship you will find has one that leaves every wharf. But a star gazing soul has no use for a compass rose, They'd rather get lost and just follow their nose. For there is something to be said for this lost ancient art, And I'm sure a true sailor is born with stars in his heart.