Thirty-four years ago I bought this little house
In Maine under a cold sky on frozen ground in
Amongst white pines and unmown grass.
Inside this little house where I lie after the sun has gone beyond
Westport Island I can stare out the window,
My head turned on my cool pillow and my imperfect eyes
Straining to focus on the point of light in the north.
One white pine with only its pointing finger visible
Indicates the precise location of Polaris. So many miles
Away. Measured in light years. The star I am looking at
Existed three hundred and twenty years ago. I hope it’s
Still there. I have looked at it twelve thousand four hundred
And ten times. Each time I have trusted my eyes. Lying on
My back and head turned left on this cool pillow I have
Fully believed I was having a spiritual relationship with
The North Star which is really a group of about seven stars of
Various sizes bunched together in front and back and to the left and right
Of each other so they appear as one light from this great distance and
With imperfect eyes to boot. I have no problem with that. I just
Make up my mind that Polaris, or the North Star, is one bright son-of- a-gun
Huge sun hanging out directly over our north pole and I and billions of people
Through the ages have stared at it and wondered all sorts of things.
As a group, as a species, we have formed a very large club.
The North Star Fan Club.
My mind cycles between the fantasy and the learned reality of it.
I hope I can see the north star as I die and that my heart flies
Three hundred and twenty light years and lands smack, dab in the middle
Of all seven suns. What a treat that would be. I hope it happens.
G. M. Goodwin
October 19, 2020
Playing Fair and Being Kind 
I’m a member of the fan club too. It’s often the first star I locate on a clear night.
I enjoyed this poem, and I learned for the first time that Polaris is not a single star!
Hi, Lynne. The longer we hang around the more we find out. LOL! It was in the 60’s when I learned that Polaris was a cluster of three stars with two of them rotating on each other. The bigger and better and farther ranging optics are bringing more to us. Whooda thunk??