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Empyreal Iris
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An Iris empyreal blooms above
in nebula’s open cluster thereof
whose flower petals ethereal grew
like fleur-de-lis of a glorious blue
amongst the manifold meadows of stars
fluorescing the fields of heavens’ afars.
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In Cepheus constellation one views
this bright cosmic cloud of indigo hues,
which might evoke art by Vincent van Gogh,
the notable iris studies we know,
that painter whose works unheeded, unsold
are since his demise now grandly extolled.
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This leads to the question of what has worth
plus how things are valued by us on earth.
Our planet of birth would certainly seem
to head the list of what we should esteem
as well as the life which has burgeoned here
on this tiny orbiting global sphere.
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By rain and sunshine abundantly kissed
the blossoming irises just exist.
Personifying a rainbow in myth,
they may grace our gardens or forests with
spectacular splashes of color bright
much like the celestial nebula sight.
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Might stellar cloud many light-years away
help waken us earthlings who’ve gone astray
to shed the shallow and seek the profound,
for myriad wonders are all around,
on land, in the seas, and the azure skies?
Would that the Iris could open our eyes!
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~ Harley White
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Some sources of inspiration were the following…
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Irises, 1889 by Vincent Van Gogh…
https://www.vincentvangogh.org/irises.jsp
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A Closer Look at Vincent van Gogh’s Irises…
https://drawpaintacademy.com/irises/
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Van Gogh’s Irises (YouTube ~ Getty Museum)…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HISyosAJR7c&ab_channel=GettyMuseum
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Iris Nebula (Constellation Guide)…
https://www.constellation-guide.com/iris-nebula/
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Iris Nebula (Wikipedia)…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Nebula
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Explanation: The Iris Nebula (also known as NGC 7023 and Caldwell 4) is a bright reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. The designation NGC 7023 refers to the open cluster within the larger reflection nebula designated LBN 487… Named for its resemblance to the iris flower, the Iris Nebula has a diameter of 6 light-years and occupies an area of 18 by 18 arcminutes of the apparent sky… The Iris Nebula is illuminated by the hot, blue, massive star SAO 19158 (HD 200775). The star lights up the surrounding particles of dust that are 10 to 100 times smaller than dust particles on Earth. These particles diffuse the star’s glare, producing the image of a nebula that glows in bluish light. The central region of the nebula was imaged by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in December 2009.
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Image: File:Iris Nebula - NGC 7023 - Caldwell 4.jpg (This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iris_Nebula_-_NGC_7023_-_Caldwell_4.jpg
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Image credit: Română: Nebuloasă de reflexie din constelația Cefeu : Author, Andreigusan
#poetry