The Lumber Room

Tonight the sky is devoid of cloud,
so now's the time to count the stars;
after all, such counting is allowed -
progress does not admit of any bars.

We'll include all dead stars still shining,
all the stars that have imploded,
all the stars still in the making,
and all those that have exploded.

We must do this to expand what we know,
deciding if we count from the left or the right,
not missing out even the slightest glow,
and getting the job done before morning light.

When we finish we'll have a very long number
which we'll have to roll up into a ball
and store in the room with the other lumber,
or drape it all along the entrance hall.

Tomorrow we are going to tackle human pain
and use our new knowledge to take it away.
This is an advance we should easily gain,

the speed we work, it'll only take a day.

.