Barefoot in my backyard
overgrown grass tickling
my ankles
I looked up
at the stars
dotting the deep
black August night
these same stars
shone over Seville
and Paris
and Verona
as eternal witnesses
to furtive lovers
and unanswered heartbeats
the one loyal keeper of ancient secrets
and collector of eternal wishes
looking directly overhead
I knew the brightest star
was shining for me
and I was seized by
The Dance
extending my arms
my feet whirled me
into a dervish
and whipped me
into a frothy meringue
eyes still fixed on
my one shining star
I twirled
faster and faster
as laughter erupted
from my soul
and then I stopped
and the world went sideways
and I flopped to catch my balance
smiling and giggling
it reminded me of
how love feels
“fizzy and funny and fine”
and I fought it
no longer
and I fell to the grass
and let it tickle me
from head to toe.
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