Crashing to Earth

a poem

Awakened by the thunder in her head,
She kicks off the covers and lies naked.
Even the sheet against her skin is too much pressure—
There’s just too much pressure.
The blinking lights from traffic outside demand her attention,
But there’s nothing more to give.
She has nothing more, so she turns to the wall
And stares at the darkness.

      On a wintry night he sneaked up behind
And whispered, “Who do you love?”
She smiled and said, “It’s you, baby boy, you know it’s you.”
So they kissed in the snow until their toes were frozen,
Then laughing, rushed home to bed.
Now he asks her again, “Who do you love?”
Barely whispering the words, she says,
“It’s you, baby boy, it’s always been you.”

      She knows the answer to be true
But tears cut her eyes like glass,
Much too painful to wipe away.
How can she explain that it’s not him she hates now—
But a life in which she’s found it easier
To keep secrets than to keep promises?
How can she explain that it’s not him she hates—
But herself?

      Be careful what you wish for, and
Just think before you wish for it.
Sometimes wished-upon stars come crashing to Earth,
Silvery trails of hope burned up in the atmosphere
And turned to streaks of bitter regret.

      Be careful what you wish for, and
Just think before you wish for it.
Sometimes wished-upon stars come crashing to Earth
Smashing through foundations built on nothing more
Than ashes and good intentions.

~lisa