she sits 
on the bench
feeding the birds late into the evening
with two coats a scarf 
and a hat
to keep her warm
as her shoulders 
sag
and her bright eye dims
because this is how stars die

as her children’s children’s children
shiver and look and think
how did we not notice
for a thousand years or more
and 
how cold 
we are 
without her
and how dark the house is now
because this is how stars are mourned

until her winter garden blooms once more
a youthful rose of memories
blushing the sky and laying to rest
the myth that age must weary
and rage must die
and stories stop
and endings can’t be
beginnings

because this is how stars are born

—

This poem was written once and then changed (quite a bit) to celebrate Yuri’s Night. I loved writing Astro Poetica so much that it is unlikely I will ever stop writing new poems about stars and the universe as I keep on trying to connect us with the universe. This poem isn’t in the collection, but it’s in there in spirit.

If you enjoyed this and would like to support my work then please…