Home » Poems » Sandra Haight » The Stars and Beyond

Notes About The Poem

Sestina: A highly structured form of poetry consisting of six six-line stanzas and ending with a three-line half-stanza (thirty-nine lines). The end words of the first stanza are repeated in strict order as the end words in the other stanzas.

The concluding half-stanza uses the same six words; 1,3 and 5 in the centers of each line, and 2, 4, and 6, at the ends.

2025 Poetry Marathon Mile 5 Poetry Contest
Sponsor, Mark Toney
Entered, August 8, 2025 NA

The Stars and Beyond

As we speculate the clear evening sky
Iridescent with gems, which we call stars,
Alive in our hearts stir the endless dream
To unwind and solve the puzzles of Earth-
The unfathomed vastness of cosmic space.
Since time began, this has been our great wish.

Because of this strong and enduring wish
Our minds are forever drawn to the sky, 
Where in the blankness of great timeless space
Drift all the planets, our Sun, Moon, and stars.
And amidst it all, our minuscule Earth-
Seems lost in this cloudy, galactic dream.

But humans will always anxiously dream
Of someday achieving this inborn wish;
Discovering answers about the Earth;
Exploring the unknown realms of the sky
To find our way among planets and stars,
Erasing boundaries of time and space.

What truths does it hold, this infinite space?
Will answers always be- vague as a dream?
Do other planets with suns as our stars
Have beings like earthlings who hope and wish?
Do they gaze at their vast eternal sky;
Know of our galaxy, Sun, Moon, and Earth?

Though we're secure on this great mammoth Earth,
When we contemplate the vastness of space,
We know we are only dust in the sky
And our importance dissolves like a dream,
For matter not how we wonder and wish
We are naught amid the planets and stars.

Gems on black velvet, our heaven of stars;
So close they all seem to mortals of Earth;
So often we stare at them- make a wish-
Yet billions of light-years measure the space
In between. When will we wake from our dream?
Solve all the puzzles that darken our sky?

Twinkle on, great sky, with your rhinestone stars-
Continue, sweet dream, for beings of Earth!
Eternal as space, is our hope and wish!

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adventurespacestarsuniversevoyagesestina

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Vanya Evangeline

Date: 3/28/2025 8:07:00 AM

Hey, this is actually one of the first poems I came across on PoetrySoup (long before I actually became a member) while looking into the Sestina form, and I think it was one of the poems that inspired me to seriously start polishing my craft. So... I thank you for this, Sandra. Truly.

Ink Empress

Date: 2/6/2025 10:01:00 PM

I always love and feel a poem with questions, and youv done that well giving an evocative touch while also painting imagery in such a creative and poetic manner dear sandra! Congratulations on your win! Pleasure reading this gem! Sending you light always

Susan Ashley

Date: 2/5/2025 12:16:00 PM

Dear Sandra, congratulations for your success in Tom's contest with your thought-provoking poem. Beautiful, intricate and fascinating. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Tom Woody

Date: 2/3/2025 12:15:00 PM

I loved this one because even though it didn't necessarily stir the emotions it did accomplish something important. As poets we're always searching, always questioning, writing on universal themes of loss, love, heartache, elation, while we look to the stars in wonder and awe. Congrats on your placement

Silent One

Date: 12/6/2023 6:40:00 AM

This form takes a while to write and it is a wonderful choice for the contest.. Congratulations on having your poem showcased..

Sandra Haight
Date: 12/7/2023 5:14:00 PM

Thank you again, Silent One! I loved working on it- a real challenge. I appreciate being on your winner's list. Sandra

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 1/17/2021 8:26:00 AM

Our minds are forever drawn to the sky - amazing Sandra. Congratulations on the win! Linda

Unseeking Seeker

Date: 1/17/2021 4:39:00 AM

Thank you for participating in the contest. Congratulations on your placement!

Line Gauthier

Date: 5/15/2020 8:52:00 PM

Lovely imagery, Sandra. Well penned.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 5/8/2020 4:25:00 PM

Wow Sandra, this magnificent sestina is so impressive! Congratulations on all your wins that are so deserving. I am so happy to be led here from your latest contest poem. It takes great talent to write in this form and you have that in spades my dear! A Fave! xxoo

L. J. Carber

Date: 6/7/2019 9:10:00 AM

Lovely Sandra-- congrats on your win.

Sandra Haight
Date: 6/11/2019 3:51:00 PM

Thank you so much, L.J.! Sandra

Line Gauthier

Date: 6/5/2019 1:12:00 PM

Congrats on your win, Sandra. Beautifully crafted.

Sandra Haight
Date: 6/11/2019 3:51:00 PM

Thank you so much, Line. I appreciate your visit, congrats, and positive comment. Hugs, Sandra

Agnes Krampe

Date: 10/13/2017 8:48:00 AM

Congrats on your win, Sandra. I don't think I've ever seen a Sestina - what an intricate pattern! Beautifully done!

Sandra Haight
Date: 10/13/2017 3:47:00 PM

Thank you, Agnes. Yes, it follows a strict pattern using iambic pentameter. I am pleased that you enjoyed it. Hugs, Sandra

Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 10/13/2017 5:23:00 AM

Gorgeous write, Sandra, and full of lovely phrasing - love this! Congrats! :-) <3

Sandra Haight
Date: 10/13/2017 3:47:00 PM

Thank you so much, Gregory, for the nice comment and congratulations. Sandra

Subimal Sinha-Roy

Date: 10/12/2017 10:01:00 PM

Congratulations, Sandra on your fine win.

Sandra Haight
Date: 10/13/2017 3:48:00 PM

Thank you very much, Subimal! Sandra

Thvia Shetley

Date: 10/12/2017 9:46:00 PM

What a wonderful Sestina you have penned. Thank you for entering it in my contest and congrats on your placement!

Sandra Haight
Date: 10/13/2017 3:49:00 PM

Thank you very much, Thvia, for your congratulations on supportive comment. Sandra

John Hamilton

Date: 7/15/2017 3:38:00 PM

Well done Sandra, I always marvel at your skill, this is a classic write for the ages. Congrats on another win!

Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 7/15/2017 7:18:00 AM

There were SO many that I wanted to include in the top ten, but I HAD to go with this one, as it's such a dear subject matter to me, and was so wonderfully-crafted! You are such a talented writer, Sandra, and give such sublime honor to the Universe here. Something dear to me, but also requiring deft writing and phrasing as you have very well displayed. Congrats on TENTH PLACE, and thank you for entering my contest! :-)

Bl Devnath

Date: 5/6/2016 11:12:00 AM

A great congratulation my lovely friend, bl

Terry O'Leary

Date: 5/5/2016 6:21:00 AM

An intricate weave... well done! The universe!!! Where our imaginations have no limits... Congratulatios on your win!!

Casarah Nance

Date: 5/4/2016 9:12:00 PM

Sandra, you bring science and poetry in a vivid blend. A fascinating subject that has been on my mind as of late, and a very well done structure, this poem is a great example of your talent and I am pleased you have picked it as your pride and joy for my contest. Thanks for writing, you're out of this world :)

Sandra Haight
Date: 5/4/2016 9:39:00 PM

Dear Casarah, thank you so much for your uplifting and supportive comment about my poem, and for the honor of the fine placement on your winner's list. I appreciate it so much! Thank you again. Hugs, Sandra