Not Ready to Join the Stars Just Yet

By Bogdan Dragos

the girl with burnt face and
faded eyes
would call out to him

She would call out to him in those nights
of wandering alone around the
town
as a way to combat insomnia

She was barefoot
and wore but a simple nightgown
and if he got close enough
she would reach for his hand

caress it a few times
while staring him in the eyes
with her eyes that looked like painted
marbles

Then she would give a nod
and ask him to follow

All the way up that unfinished building
all the way up to the ninth floor
all the way to the margin
all the way to the corner

To watch the stars

But her eyes weren’t looking towards the sky
They were looking down at the lights
below

And every night she would jump down
to join the stars
and he wouldn’t follow