Triangulum

Let’s say you live in a neighborhood
Of about twenty-thousand people,
Either in the city, a large suburb,
Or the whole of a smallish town. Big deal.

Now, triangulate for fresh perspective—
That’s about the same number of bodies,
Counting the humans only, as you have
Protein-coding genes locked in each cell.

Rotate your head. Look at the ceiling
Or out the window at whatever sky.
If you were out on a clear, moonless night
In the desert—five to ten thousand stars.

So, think of a spectacular, starry night sky,
Every twinkle a breathing human life—
Less than half of your few protein genes,
A small town, and almost nothing of night.