STARS

I never knew their names,

my companion stars.

but i was familiar with their comfort.

i’d squint at those little lights,

winking in sympathetic synchronization,

until my eyes,

blurry with a thousand tears,

began to cross

and then closed

taking me into sleep.

In my dreams,

I was free really free.

Here, nothing could touch me.

I was gliding,

high above the ancient knotted trees

of castle courtyard,

with cool wind blowing in my face.

I felt safer.

I felt braver.