The Stargazer’s Plight

Unplanned views through my telescope. Writer's Cramp Entry.

I bought a grand telescope, shiny and tall,
To peer at the cosmos and chart what I saw.
It promised the heavens, the moon and its seas,
But mostly I’ve stared at my neighbor’s oak trees.

I aimed it at Saturn, with rings all aglow,
But found instead Tom in his bathrobe below.
I twisted the dials, I fiddled with care,
Caught sight of a squirrel giving me quite a stare.

Venus was hiding, Mars played it coy,
Jupiter's moons? Just a porch light from Joy.
I camped in the yard with snacks in my vest,
But Orion’s Belt looks like Barb’s sequined vest.

My charts are a mess, constellations askew,
I mistook a plane for a rare stellar view.
The Big Dipper vanished (or maybe just spilled),
And I nearly got chased by a raccoon I thrilled.

Still I persist, though my progress is slow,
I’ve mapped half the rooftops on Mulberry Row.
While stars may elude me with shimmering tease,
At least I’ve confirmed: Tom never wears sleeves.

So here I shall stargaze with humor and hope,
Armed with snacks, spray for bugs, and my wobbly scope.
I may not find aliens, comets, or Mars,
But I’m king of the cul-de-sac...reaching for stars.

Written for: "The Writer's Cramp" 
Prompt: Tomorrow, May 3, is Astronomy Day! (Shouldn't it be Astronomy Night? Never mind.) Write a story or poem about someone with a home telescope.