"The stars, like dust,"

"The stars, like dust,"

Title of a book by Issac Asimov.
Inside the book is a single verse from I believe a fictional poem.
Having read the book I wanted to read the rest of the poem.
- Of course I couldn't so I wrote it.

The Stars, like dust.

The stars like dust encircle me.

In living mists of light,

And all of space I seem to see,

In one vast burst of sight.

My soul departs on new found wings,

Explores some distant mote,

Whilst all along the spaceship sings,

Silver hued, star drifting boat.

But all too soon the planet’s call,

Our destination met.

Unfettered soul I must recall,

And shall the poorer get.

The greens and blues of life rush in,

As down to Earth we fall,

Immersed once more in life’s full swing,

Yet still the stars they call.

For I can hear the starship’s song,

See my ship of metal,

So can not love this milling throng

And so I can not settle.

To tread the path amongst the stars,

Each dot a living light,

To go beyond the path of Mars,

Into eternal night.

That life, alone is the one for me,

On which I set my sight,

Until the stars encircle me,

In living mists of light.

© Mark Foulds 1995  - First verse by Issac Asimov in his book titled ‘The Stars Like Dust’

I read this book as a young man in the 1970s. I've read many others since including some by Ann McCaffery. re-reading the book in 1995 I felt inspired to write the rest of the fictional poem, maybe you can see her influence.