Poetry

Crab Nebula's song

Farida Shaikh
Crab Nebula
is the Lover
constantly beaming radiation
towards Beloved Blue Earth. Crab Nebula
is the core of a spinning neutron star
in the midst of magnetic field
remnant of a supernova
in the constellation of Taurus
6500 light years away from the Blue Earth. Crab Nebula
is in a ceaseless swing
for thousands of years
Suddenly on 12 April
sent out a passionate flare, bursting enormous gamma
rays from its region
30 times more intense and 5 times more powerful
than its normal energy output. Crab Nebula's fury flared
into even bigger eruption four days later
Emission that were 100 times greater
than the highest achievable energy Then, Crab Nebula
was suddenly silent
4 days later
and left astronomers wondering.
Crab Nebula's flare originated in the neutron star, 1
3 light years in radius Then probably a rearrangement occurred
in the surrounding magnetic field
caused Crab Nebula to be mute.
Just as before, cradled in its area of emission
enormous as the Blue Earth's solar system.
Farida Shaikh is a critic and social commentator.