The Observatory Observed

Behold the one-eyed beast,
Of whose marvels not the least
Of which is what it views,
Galactic ancient news,
And though it scans sans stint
Can’t read the smaller print.

For, centered in its mass,
Its single piece of glass,
However purely conical,
Is really just a monocle.
To see past star-crossed locals
It ought to get bifocals.

But it works with all its might
To capture stars in flight
And lets us gaze at galaxies,
Disproving ancient fallacies,
That innocent voyeurs
Might ogle starry blurs

And through each long, slow age
Watch Nature strut the stage,
Observing nightly revels
Of angels, gods and devils.
So I here salute its worth,
The opera glass of Earth.