The Rutland Herald
had told us we might see it
with our naked eyes

assuming there were no clouds
and the moon was not shining.

We were teenagers
riding the school bus home
from a festival. 

The spring night was cold,
reminiscent of winter.

Huddled near the back,
we spoke about music
we played that day.

Conversation was rich
with our youthful excitement.

We spoke about plans
for the future, colleges
we would attend

parties we had attended
girls, boys, parents, teachers.

For no reason
I can remember
there was a lull.

We were silent
for a few minutes.

My friend craned his neck
to look outside
at the passing fields

at the sky

      star-strewn

cloudless...

"There it is, I see it!"
He shouted.

We followed his gaze
along the trajectory
he indicated

with his finger thrust
against a chilly window

and saw the comet:
a milky swath, conical,
streaking above us.

Radiant
as other celestial bodies

its head was bigger
than Venus;
its dusty tail, glowing

extended
across the galaxy. 

I was sure it was moving
far more quickly than we were

yet it seemed motionless

appearing stationary
among the constellations.

We were quiet
again
before talking anymore

stunned

      perhaps

grateful

to have shared
this moment of awe

this unanticipated miracle

that we had witnessed
an otherworldly being
in angelic flight

its cosmic destination
far less certain than our own.