A night br scattered with stars br br each star br so clear br br in its perfect br isolation br br you feel as if you are br about to pluck it br br from its position br examine it br br put it br exactly back br br watch as time & the world br come apart br br (watch as neither match) br br each minute br like a bead of prayer br br fumbled through fingers br in its litany of despair br br a rosary of br hopelessness br br the back of her hand br resting in the palm of mine br br stupidly the thought br crossing my mind br br br “She made br this hand...” br br And now she searches br for her dying br br sees it reflected br in our faces br br our grief br her mirror br br br br each star br a tear br br br br in the perfection br of its isolation br br br br never so alone br as here br br br as now br br br br the Milky Way br spilt across the sky.