Knowing that people across the world
use their time to stare at dead stars –
some spending thousands on telescopes
to get closer to the flaming corpses –
or pour hours into poems and lyrics
dedicated to their ancient mystique
or memorise their names and shapes
or buy them for a loved one’s birthday,
I feel less worried
about how often I still lie awake at night
thinking about you.

© Carl Burkitt 2021