Ray Bradbury — They have not seen the stars

They have not seen the stars, 

Not one, not one 

Of all the creatures on this world 

In all the ages since the sands 

First touched the wind, 

Not one, not one, 

No beast of all the beasts has stood 

On meadowland or plain or hill 

And known the thrill of looking at those fires. 

Our soul admires what they, 

Oh, they, have never known. 

Five billion years have flown 

In turnings of the spheres, 

But not once in all those years 

Has lion, dog, or bird that sweeps the air 

Looked there, oh, look. Looked there. 

Ah, God, the stars. Oh, look, there! 

It is as if all time had never been, 

Nor Universe or Sun or Moon 

Or simple morning light. 

Those beasts, their tragedy was mute and blind, 

And so remains. Our sight? 

Yes, ours? to know now what we are. 

But think of it, then choose. Now, which? 

Born to raw Earth, inhabiting a scene, 

And all of it no sooner viewed, erased, 

As if these miracles had never been? 

Vast circlings of sounding fire and frost, 

And all when focused, what? as quickly lost? 

Or us, in fragile flesh, with God's new eyes 

That lift and comprehend and search the skies? 

We watch the seasons drifting in the lunar tide 

And know the years, remembering what's died.