galaxy's heart
by Joseph Andriano

 the oldest stars are there
 near that sinkhole that stretches time out
 from ball to string as a boy would a gum-wad
 lifespans dwarf Methuselahs---at least
 to us out here in the distant burbs

 it is there our children's great
 great grandchildren will go
 in ships so fast they stretch out their lives
 to meet the Old Ones

 as for us here now
 we can only look on
 a moonless night toward the Archer
 with his milk-dipper--
 the oldest stars are there

Sagittarius