one bright orb
encircled by another
its own sphere of influence
radiating light into the darkness
there is ambient light as well
but it lacks concentration
while its effect is only local
and it does not change the fact
that night has fallen all around us
this light, tiny though it may be
dispels the darkness for those
within its immediate proximity
a tiny node of light in a network
a concatenation of minor stars
I’m simplifying things, of course
for the sake of this metaphor
not examining the impact
of the literal light cast
by this streetlight
on the lives of insects
or the hormones of plants
my intention is not to be didactic
but rather to, well, shine a light
on how things look to me
from where I stand
so you can see
the same