A poem on the constellations in our lives.

I am but a single star
in a universe of twinkling bodies
how easy to get lost
in the beam of blaring lights
but how fortunate to have found
a few special ones
to grow better, glow brighter
together

from afar, others would call us a constellation
traced by an observer’s pointing finger
labeled by an astronomer’s imagination
but a star’s perspective is so much more 
for only we hold
the memories:
        of a day the first strokes were made on blank canvas
        two unique styles harmonizing into one masterpiece
        of a time the first steps were made on untraveled sand
        and the journey continues in the footprints we’re still making
the quiet moments:
        when warmth melts the icy walls we raise around ourselves
        planting seeds from which trust can be cultivated
the feeling: 
        when together, where time becomes an afterthought
        replaced by laughter echoing in the night
together we form 
not the lines drawn by others
but a true connection between stars
a bond not so easily broken
but not without challenges that try

as the world keeps spinning 
our places shift too
threaten to scatter us, shatter us

as children, hours would fly building forts and telling secrets 
now as teens time blurs doomscrolling and sending reels
the artificial glow of devices
our latest addition to the galaxy
except
a screen cannot capture laughter or sorrow
not even the brightest ones can match the way we glow 
can match the connections only we know
        for having lived them

as the world keeps spinning
it urges us to keep up
to chase better and brighter heights
sometimes this means letting go in order to grow
resist the gravitational pull of our old places 
in order to explore new galaxies and spaces
with college present on our minds
how do we choose what parts to leave behind
without losing who raised us up

happening around us
is a sky always changing colors
happening within us
lights that ignite and dwindle
but the promises made between us
a true constellation
only we know

Process

My mentor and I both noticed that lots of my writing centers around community. I’m drawn to stories of the people and places that play a huge role in my life, which is what prompted this poem on friendship! The entire writing process made me realize how hard it is to define friendship in its entirety. (To start with, the dictionary definitions were not very great…) Friendship is such a broad topic, so I initially struggled with incorporating multiple facets of it into one cohesive piece. I eventually settled on a few I felt were relevant to me and the age we live in.
This poem weaves in the metaphor of stars and constellations to show that defining friendship is all about perspective. How an observer looks up at the stars is different from the star’s view itself. Because I believe one of the most powerful and authentic ways to depict an experience is to have lived it, I tried to highlight a star’s perspective and in doing so, highlight what friendship means to me.