Stand on the clear heights
of a southern mountain.

Track the dog star’s path
across the nighttime sky.

Wait. Let the waking sun
wash out the lesser stars.

When all the others fade,
watch Sirius wink at you.

A star so bright he glows
straight through the dawn.

Kneel down, eyes on him.
Recite his myriad names.

[Mary Soon Lee was born and raised in London, but now lives in Pittsburgh. She writes both fiction and poetry, and has won the Rhysling Award and the Elgin Award. Her book Elemental Haiku, containing haiku for each element of the periodic table, is forthcoming from Ten Speed Press in October 2019. She has an antiquated website at http://www.marysoonlee.com and tweets at @MarySoonLee.]