September

One day in September
I’ll build a rocketship or maybe
a pair of wings
(you know I’ve always wanted to fly)
and I’ll soar off into space
faster than this earth can hold me.
I’ll watch the sun fall away and then
I’ll leave.
I’ll learn how to count the stars
and I’ll learn the strata of the comets
and I’ll stay away from black holes.
I’ll shape a nebula
with my own hands and
make it blue and pink and yellow.
I’ll name a star after myself because
I’m human enough to be selfish, and
I’ll name a star after someone else because
I’m human enough to be selfless.
I’ll go to a planet and
I’ll find a stone
the color of your eyes
and I’ll hold it tight
until it’s time to let it go.
I’ll go to the very edge
and I’ll look back and
see everything
and I’ll look forward and
see a blank to fill.
And then
I’ll return here
and I’ll tell you
how glad I am that I left
and how glad I am that I came
back.