my breath
catches
in my lungs when I see
Orion in the heavens
clear and bright under
a full crescent moon
in the gentle air of fall’s
early morning
present for the first time
in months.
I remember how his shout
felt like a gift
how I believed he was leaping
for joy
how I counted my friends in the
gleaming stars of his belt
and now can only think of you
my love my dear
my only star
and I know one day I’ll tattoo
the constellation on my skin
friends, family, lover
faith hope love and the
greatest of these…
a trio of ink stars that would never
leave me
as if that truth is something I could
ever lose
as if my memories could fade like
the stars
in the morning.