is the phase when a heavenly body is
more than half but not yet whole.

St. Christopher watches over all travelers,
the heavenly and the common.

You are away from me now,
but I am still more than just half.
I can eat somewhat.
I did not sleep much last night,
but a servant of God stayed by me
until 3am, understanding that I am
sometimes and only
fleetingly whole.

I think I will sleep today.

Venus has her phases.
Astronomers see her when she is full
and when she is crescent; they even claim to see her
when she is more than half but not whole.
Data can account for her transitions,
explain them in a way, but
do these rational men of science
understand the intention behind
the imperfections and wobbles
within her orbit?

If only I could, like Galileo did,
catch, spy, and maybe capture Venus
in a telescope.
But what could I do for her?
I could not calculate her orbits,
understand her bleary forms entering my lens,
nor predict her path. If she would stay in my view
for a little while,
I could only offer her my dim praise;
no equations would flow from my pen.

But how I would commend her,
holding her through all her stages.
My model would be you
keeping your vigil all the while,
not only when I am full or crescent
but also when I am more than half
but not yet whole.