That Star There

That star there,

   that’s who you are.

A display of light and beauty

   a show of life not to be undone.

A dazzler among dazzlers,

   completely ordinary among them all.

The light is all show you see,

   it burned out long ago.

What you see now is a shallow echo

   A time delayed play.

That sea is sparkling with life

   Cold and dead, empty and alone.

“Yes,” I repeat to myself,

   “That’s who you are.”

      A moments’ idleness before looking again.

         Too late, the star has melted into obscurity.

Back now to that thing they call life;

My path without stones,

My song without lyrics,

My story without hero…

Yes,

to the empty room I return…unannounced.