Stardust

Stardust
(for Kerry, with gratitude)


For weeks now, riding the bus,
listening to the radio, chopping vegetables
for dinner, I have paused to wonder
Is this it? I know the answer is probably
yes.

I am made of exploded stars.
Most days, that keeps me
sufficiently in awe
of my own existence.

There are times, though, when
that alone should be enough.
But isn't.

Perhaps, says my friend Kerry,
this is all there is. And perhaps
there will be days when stardust
just doesn't feel like quite enough.

But it's also possible
that this universe
is just one of many
paper lanterns
strung up along
God's back porch.