they only come out at night
except, of course,
for the one
that is closest
a telescope would probably help
except, of course,
when dealing
with that close one
in which case
UV filtering glasses
or a box with a pinhole
that the kids made
(camera obscura if the edge of the hole
is ragged)
focused by name
and habituation
love and trust
the lady next store watching the kids
while she weeded the garden
until overcome with curiosity
she asked
and laughed
remembering her own teacher
and a painless game of physics
and optics
that I forgot about until just now
endless loops and whorls of stars
sunspots and freckles
a secret code
with the kids' eyes
as the decoder ring