We awake in the middle of the night, 

My black dog and I.

The darkness calls out,

Offering a path to follow.

I gaze up to the stars above.

My eyes focus on the Plough,

the Big Dipper, the Great Wagon, Saptarishi,

the Saucepan, the Drinking Gourd.

Call it as you will.

Its seven stars:

Alioth, Dubhe, Merak, Alkaid, 

Phecda, Megrez, and Mizar

Shine brightly in the northern sky.

Dubhe and Merak point afar

To Polaris, the Northern Star.

The dog’s tail, which leads to freedom.

The path I choose to walk on.