The radiant question mark of seven stars
leaning on me
has breath and voice of my father-
“Look, there’s the Saptarshi Mandal,
asking you if you knew the Sapta Rishis?”
said he one night-
“Of course, I know, they are the seven sages
blessing us-
their smile is the light”-
my father let me be happy
with whatever fairy-tale knowledge I had
of Great Bear Constellation-
since that day
I grew a bond with this star-cluster
that held me, my father and the Indian myth together-
Posted for my prompt ~ Looking at Stars @ Poets United Midweek Motif
sumanar/lekha 
What a beautiful picture this paints
It ios lovely to read of other cultures traditions and fairy tales. I wish we would all embrace our sameness rather than fear our differences.
My mother, and avid stargazer, taught me to love them and now she is one
Stories hold us together. I am warmed by the star-story that bound you to your father.
I love the stories built around the constellations and to have one of your own is marvellous!
What a milestone, a memory, a gift to the you, and from you to the readers–
” “Of course, I know, they are the seven sages
blessing us-
their smile is the light”-
my father let me be happy
with whatever fairy-tale knowledge I had . . . ” WOW! Thank you.
Over here, we give those constellations the unromantic names of the Big and Little Dippers, as they form a pot……I love your wonderful names better, and the wonderful memory of your father, saying “their smile is the light”. Beautiful.
This is so beautiful.. I remember stargazing with my father. He took watches me from among the stars.
I remember as a teenager teaching my mother about the stars and constellations and the various myths surround them. She loved all the tales of the various cultures
This is breathtaking! I love to see the influence of culture on our understanding of the stars.
Sounds like my Dad and the sorts of conversations we used to have when I was a kid. Yes, they are very bonding experiences. Some topics will always bring back such memories for me, and thereby bring him back, and my whole childhood. Thanks for this lovely reminder.
What a sweet memory of both your father and your view of the stars.
Thank you for sharing this absolute treasure of a poem.
Beautiful…this reminds me of my sessions with Baba…!! “Those were the days, my friend.” Such a delightful piece…
Lovely story….looks like the saucepan that spilt over making the milky way:)
Sumana- this is a wonderful heartwarming tale.
I also had same conversation with my father as a young child. You took me down the memory road, thank u