Astronomers detect what they can’t see
by noticing the neighbors it affects.
So they observe a black hole’s gravity
but can’t make out the agent. One expects
a mover when impressed by what is moved
and that’s how small or distant are inferred.
There’s limitation – much cannot be proved,
but disregarding wobble is absurd.

The science of strong inference applies
as well to people as to stars. Some chafe
at openness, some don polite disguise,
while others hunker down but don’t feel safe.
Cliches may veil but language can’t conceal
the qualities the orbitals reveal.