SOUTHERN CROSS

I like to watch the night sky and stars on a clear evening.

A couple of weeks ago when The Old Girl was working late in the study (her office) I turned the TV off and all the lights (other than the study) and sat on the deck looking at the stars. At one point, to get a better view I lay down on my back on the deck table and stayed like that for a while ... until The Old Girl finished up in the study and came into the kitchen to get a glass of water. She had thought I'd gone to bed and when she saw me on the table out on the deck she jumped and exclaimed "what the hell are you doing out there?"

I told her that I was looking at the Southern Cross. She in turn looked at me strangely. I then told her that sometimes, when she's away, on a clear evening I climb up on the roof to get a better view. She was aghast and said "not on my watch Matey!"

I was thinking of Patti Smith's song 'Beneath the Southern Cross'. Here's an excellent live performance she did at an interview on Skavlan:

 

Another Southern Cross song I like is the Crosby Stills, Nash one 'Southern Cross'. Beautiful.

There are some others but these two have a resonance with me.

It's nice and clear tonight - I think I'll set the ladder up and get up on the roof.

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time

You understand now why you came this way

'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from is so small

But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a comin' day

- Stephen Stills. 

The inspired sky 

Amazed to stumble

Where gods get lost

Beneath

The southern cross

- Patti Smith.