counting the night's stars

sometimes broken hearts
simply need to be protected by glass walls,
not masterpieces of brick or mosaic,
which show off the fine bone china
that life has carved for them
but which offer enough resistance against
life's swift rivers filled with jagged stones…
and on a cold winter morning, when you least expect it,
someone sees a dim reflection in those walls gone opaque
and speaks gently to them
a simple shining word of poetry
bearing wise gifts from his own wounds,
wishes and dreams from a stranger,
which polish your hesitant fingerprints
decorating, but obscuring the glass wall
so that your heart may shine beyond its protection
and desire, if even briefly, a bit more freedom to feel

and sometimes, on a frostless february evening
as you lose yourself counting the night’s stars
the moment is perfect to contemplate letting
a new love bond together that heart
broken so long ago
for hearts are also made to beat strongly
and to leap forth seizing life with passion


counting the night’s stars
[2008.4.2…b]
for DeeEl