Light Echoes Poem by Harley White

Twenty thousand light-years away
outburst of starry blaze occurred,
in a spectacular display,
echoing light of halo blurred.

The light moved outward from the blast
illuminating dust around
in radiant rings that broadcast
an echo effect, like with sound

of Alpine yodel reflected
off of sweeping mountain ranges.
The telescope has detected
a lot of dramatic changes

that leave astronomers perplexed
as to why swirled layers remain,
wondering what they might learn next
about its unusual gain

in ballooning size extensive,
while keeping those nebulous shells.
Stargazers find themselves pensive
since it lacks nova parallels.

The astral light arrives ahead
of what from clouds reverberates
and later comes to us instead,
in view the image illustrates.

V838 Mon is the name
for the variable stellar
red supergiant which became
that Hubble-famed cosmic dweller.

In constellation unicorn,
through time-lapse photos for our gaze,
a death sidereal we mourn
and muse on numbered earthly days…

All that is born is bound to die.
Blushes of morn that brush the sky
fade with the rising sun on high,
but shade to dusk when night draws nigh.

As with that brilliant crimson star
life's burning flames may flare afire,
flash with glow that will show afar,
and flicker before they expire.