Astronaut John Glenn Dies 2 Weeks before Christmas 2016

John Glenn's Mercury capsule
Bobbles above East Hollywood's
Homeless camps,
What does it mean to look
To the stars and dream? 
He's clothed in silver,
Circles globe three times,
Tarps and Mylar sheets
Fabricate sidewalk shanties
Below
John Glenn's Friendship 7
Re-enters earth atmosphere,
Heat shield on stern
Fireball-glows
Men in sweats forage
Boulevard,
Empty and crush
Plastic bottles; hourglass kin
John Glenn's spacecraft
Tracks reddish flare
Along horizon, vanishes
Beyond East Hollywood's
Homeless camps,
What does it mean to look
From the stars and dream?

Laura Stickney