In the middle of a busy city, among trams and cars, the speaker glances upward and is startled to find the sky completely crowded with stars. There is not one empty space to stick a pin; the stars are big and small, some burning furiously, some blue, some gold, and the grey air around them feels as heavy and soft as velvet. He cannot take his eyes off them. The ordinary street setting makes the vision feel almost private: beauty breaks into the noise and movement of everyday life. He even sings a little psalm, though awkwardly, because he is standing squeezed between a car and a tram. The mood is one of quiet wonder and gentle humor. A routine walk turns into a moment of awe, and the speaker doesn’t seem to mind looking a bit strange for stopping to praise the sky.
Blue Stars and Gold — Summary
While walking through the trams and cars I chanced to look up at the sky, And saw that it was full of stars.
So starry-sown that you could not, With any care, have stuck a pin Through any single vacant spot.
And some were shining furiously, And some were big and some were small. But all were beautiful to see.
Blue stars and gold, a sky of grey. The air between a velvet pall ; I could not take my eyes away.
And there I sang this little psalm Most awkwardly, because I was Standing between a car and tram.