Egypt Air 990

Astronomers say there’s no beginning and no end tonight

where pulsar stars and their red riot of a universe throb

above one lookout point at Newport’s Cliff Walk.

It’s so cold that buds crack and fall to the earth

under our feet as we stand and stare at nothing.

A killdeer shrills--in the dark, phosphor rides

the great breakers lolling in towards shore.

Out beyond a light ship you can almost see

the black plaid patch of sky from which the plane

dipped down, folding its wings like a frigate-bird,

with its two lung-sacs sucking as it plunged

beneath the waves, where surf clams cling to octopi

and shark eggs spurt from casement cartilage

in a tomb-worn kingdom at the bottom of the sea.