You kiss my inner wrist
then pretend to bite it.
Your teeth sink in just enough
to leave a faint mark on my skin.
Orion's belt imprinted
Momentarily on my hand.
I wasn't in a playful mood.
Today feels heavy.
But you insist that
we count stars.
Lying on the hood of our car.
Far away from the madding crowd.
Give it time, you say,
You'll see.
The Milky Way.
It appears spray-painted
like a band
across the jet-black sky.
Avert your vision and you'll see
the Andromeda galaxy
a smudge smaller than the moon.
Then you guide me through Ursa minor.
I simply follow your fingers.
We glide through thousands of exploding neutron stars. Effortlessly.
A few more minutes
we hitchhike through the galaxy.
Hey Bailey
Today I've learned to count stars.
Everything's coming up roses.
I no longer feel lost.
