we have become star herders now
walking slowly on either side
of an embellished sky,
whistling alternate silences,
the moon follows us for a while
then slips away to confer with the trees,
frowning,
the pretzeled shadows of the past
with their wolf tails
are slinking into the ever encroaching dark,
what does it matter where it began,
what does it matter what was said,
we stop to let the galaxy
drink from a bygone stream,
now we can be strangers every night,
taste the quiet anew,
feel the shimmering space expand,
what does it matter who was wrong,
we nod politely,
round up constellations,
the rain is coming down now,
whispering,
we pitch our separate tents
against the obtuse glance of the mountain,
and pretend
that the stars have been saved,
that the moon is asleep,
that the wind lying between us is warm breath,
that our dreams are about
other people
smiling.
I’m afraid you’re right: The dark IS encroaching, ever faster. These are troubling times.
LikeLike
Brilliant! I would place this up there with some of your best writing – albeit, a rather crowded summit.
LikeLike
You are too kind Wendy, thanks so much.
LikeLike
This kind of reminded me of a Japanese anime Kimi No Nawa (Your Name). You should watch it 😉
Mysteriously intriguing, thotpurge.
LikeLike
Never watched Japanese anime… must check it out sometime! Thanks Totomai.
LikeLike
Lovely, dreamy, enticing. I like the cosmic language and love the ending.
LikeLike
Thanks Myrna.
LikeLike
“star herders” is so wonderful 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
This reminds me of several things: lying on my back in the grass, finger-waling through the stars, and something Lucille Clifton wrote about how one of our first ancestors must have fearfully come out of a cave at night and looked up to the heavens with wonder, and how that must have been the birth of the first poem. I think it matters more than words can say. Your poem stuns me in a similar fashion,
Elizabeth
LikeLike
Thanks so much Elizabeth…I think wonderment at nature, sheer awe, was definitely the source of the first poetry. I wrote this about separation, about human failure at relationships, unwilling to let go…but as poems often do, it has meant different things to different readers!
LikeLike
Lovely poem!
LikeLike
Thanks Ayala.
LikeLike
Star herders and an embellished sky….how lovely. This is a very mystical and comforting poem. I love it!
LikeLike
Thanks Sherry… though when I was writing it I was thinking of pain and separation and flawed relationships!!! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, that end… the whole poem… the thought not just of pretending to be something we are not, but taking the fakery further by making ourselves believes that the dreams we’ve crafted (out of nothing) are happy ones.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Magaly… the things the mind does to make living bearable.!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was startled at your use of “star herders”. I had just finished writing a bit for my writing group about “cloud wranglers”! Strange, is it not, that we were each coining a new celestial phrase at almost precisely the same time? I sensed a mystery “under story” here, and loved that you drew us in with your words.
LikeLike
Love ‘cloud wranglers’! A lovely coincidence! Thanks so much Beverly.
LikeLike
I like the image of pretzel shadows and am intrigued about what will happen to the herded stars.
LikeLike
Be rounded up again the next evening I suppose 🙂 Thanks Colleen.
LikeLike
Totally enchanting!
LikeLike
I love how you personified the sky, moon, stars … giving them life as we are an integral part of the Universe 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, so beautiful. I began an imaginative journey from the first line.. the star herders is such an amazing image.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Kerry. It came from trying to describe the dissonance using the surreal!
LikeLike
Lovely poem…. very ethereal & a bit mysterious…with the mention of the dreams being of other people!
LikeLike
Thanks Mary.
LikeLike
My goodness this is absolutely bewitching!❤️ Especially love; “the moon follows us for a while then slips away to confer with the trees, frowning, the pretzeled shadows of the past.” Beautifully executed!❤️
LikeLike
Thanks so much Sanaa 🙂
LikeLike
rounding up constellations is such a good line
LikeLike
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
You have stirred distant memories of past starlit wanderings. Thank you.
LikeLike
Thanks Tiostib. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike