As I drove up the winding road to my secret observing location, I idly mused upon the study of the energy crisis as I contemplated the night's aurora display. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 40 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 94. It was better than a dodo bird, extinct but for this celestial likeness. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sought IC 1482 in a group of stars that looked like an armadillo. It looked a bit like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star. Then, for a real challenge, I observed NGC 4000 in Lynx. It was like Alan Rickman.
After a short break to have a smoke, I added to my logbook NGC 6731 in Scutum. It sparkled like yet another globular. Next, I had a chance to see IC 79. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before.
Finally, it was time to pack up and leave. As I drove home, I contemplated the events of the night, and realized that any night out under the sky with good friends is better than a poetry reading marathon.