White Dwarf

   John Updike


   Welcome, welcome little star!
   I'm delighted that you are
   Up in heaven's vast extent
   No bigger than a continent.

   Relatively minuscule
   Spinning like a penny spoon
   Glinting like a polished spoon
   A kind of kindled demi-moon,

   You offer cheer to tiny Man
   'Mid galaxies Gargantuan --
   A little pill in endless night
   An antidote to cosmic fright.