Last night the frogs were croaking on the lake,
Warm August breeze blowing romance….
And the stars— my God the stars reached
Beyond their beauty, ever slow as they moved.
The gods are in charge of holiness, and this night
Perseid reigned, vaporized so high above
Only prayer could touch or comprehend.
I remind myself those falling stars
Now streaking overhead as wishes
Are but debris— dust and ice
Radiant as they burn and die.
They rain; they burn and shed their skin
As each of us must do one day,
Best seen at dawn—death comes
With early morning light when everyone
Is most alone with God.
Do you think they scream in pain?
Will you when your celestial
Passage comes some dark night?
Will someone be there, hold your hand,
Pull up a chair, eat snacks as you
Breath your last, in clear weather or foul
Sail forth, eyes open one last time
Until you are returned to merely dust, forever.