Applied Astronomy

He took me out to see the stars,

That astronomic bore ;

He said there was two moons near Mars,

While Jupiter had four.



I thought of course he'd whisper soon

What four fold bliss 'twould be

To stroll beneath that fourfold moon

On Jupiter with me.



And when he spoke of Saturn's ring,

I was convinced he'd say

That was the very kind of thing

To offer me some day.



But in a tangent off he went

To double stars. Now that

Was most suggestive, so content

And quite absorbed I sat.



But no, he talked a dreary mess,

Of which the only fraction

That caught my fancy, I confess,

Was "mutual attraction".



I said I thought it very queer

And stupid altogether,

For stars to keep so very near

And yet not come together.



At that he smiled, and turned his head ;

I thought he'd caught the notion ;

He merely bowed good-night and said,

Their safety lay in motion.