There used to be few nights where I went inside without pausing to look up. And as I grew older I began treating the stars like people, imagining those I’d loved and lost among them, watching over me. Being alone in the dark still scars me, but I can take comfort in those tiny lights. There is sadness in the idea that some are ghosts of suns long burnt out, but hope in the ones that are just echoes of furious creatures still roaring somewhere in the distance. I like to think of my ancestors and lost friends that way. Echoes still roaring in the distance, just out of hearing.
On frost bitten nights
I stand there thinking of you,
wishing on the stars.
Tonight we’re writing haibuns over at the dVerse Poets Pub so pick up your pen, take a look at the night’s sky and join us at the bar.
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Published by Carol J Forrester
Carol J Forrester is a writer and a history geek. Her debut collection 'It's All In The Blood' came out November 2019.
She has a 2:1 BA degree in history from Bath Spa University, enjoys judo at least twice a week, and tries to attend poetry events around the Midlands when she can.
Her flash fiction story ‘Glorious Silence’ was named as River Ram Press’ short story of the month for August 2014 and her short story ‘A Visit From The Fortune Teller’ has been showcased on the literary site Ink Pantry. Her poems ‘Sunsets’ and ‘Clear Out‘ were featured on Eyes Plus Words, and two of her poems were included in the DVerse Poets Pub Publication ‘Chiaroscuro’ which is available for purchase on amazon.Her poem ‘Until The Light Gets In‘ was accepted and published at The Drabble and her poem ‘Newborn’ was published by Ink Sweat & Tears.
She has been lucky enough to write guest posts for sites such as Inky Tavern and Song of The Forlorn and has hosted a number of guest bloggers on her site Writing and Works.
View all posts by Carol J Forrester
Lovely haibun. I too think of those who I have loved and lost in terms of being stars. It is comforting to me and look up and still see them in place.
I’m glad to hear someone else does this too. 🙂
🙂
It’s possible that indeed the loved ones departed are there up in the sky, but then again, they may be a lot closer to us than what we’d like to think!
Indeed they may be. I suppose the stars, for me at least, offer some focus point for me to remember them by.
Petru:
Oh, dear!
Nan
I think it’s a wonderful thing to think about when gazing at the stars… somehow it’s looking into the past isn’t it… so of course they are there in a way… love the thought that darkness scars…
Haha, that last one was a typo actually but heyho, what works works. Thank you for commenting though. 🙂
Now you’ve made me think about stars forming and dying and I feel very small…despite that, I loved your haibun…
Well I’m sorry for making you feel very small but it’s nice to hear I had an impact.
What a nice way to think of the stars. Beautiful haiku at the end. Very nice. 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
Pretty haiku and I like the Echoes still roaring in the distance, just out of hearing…
Thank you. That was my favourite bit too.
I love it, Reminds me of The Lion King telling his son that when he’s gone just to look up and see him twinkling above,
Nooooo, someone discovered the inspiration for the piece.
Funny woman!
Treating stars like people…I like that. Love that wishing on stars!
Thank you. It’s funny because it sort of ties in with tonight’s prompt from DVerse.
Did you mean to say ‘Being alone in the dark still scars me’ rather than ‘scares me’ which is what seems like a more traditional phrasing? I like the use of ‘scars’ so kudos if it was intentional.
I did actually mean scares but I kind of like scars now
I love your view of the stars!
This is poignant. At the other end of the life spectrum, in my old age, the stars make me feel this way too, remembering losses. You have captured this so well.
It’s lovely to hear how this feeling is echoed across so many people, perhaps because star gazing is something we can all share.
oh wow. this is deep and insightful. indeed we can treat stars more special if we treat them as our loved ones. ❤
PerHaps.. the greAtest
star of hUman bEing
IS A star wHo shines
love..
whether
or not the
star of Love
comes back to them..
Star bright
Star Love
HUman Shines..:)
Every star a soul – what a wonderful thought. It means we are never alone. A poignant haibun, Carol, which gave me a tingle 😉
Oh, I’m really happy to hear I could have such an impact. I think giving someone tingles is the best comment a poem can get.
🙂
stars long gone still sending out light reads like radiant memories of the lost souls…beautiful…
Thank you.
Awwee, that’s a lovely way of putting it. I can imagine those twinkling little stars as people smiling back at me. 🙂
I’m glad. I always find stars so comforting but bittersweet.
Aww… Bittersweet, yes. 💕
Late to the posting and reading. Love everything about your haibun. Our loved one within those stars – such a comforting thought. They are within the skies that cover us like a comforting blanket and yes, some of them are still roaring about up there! 😊
Thank you Lillian. I’m glad you liked the bit about roaring. I can’t imagine some of my family sitting up there quietly.
Interesting take, Carol. Question…did you mean “scars” or “scares” me? (Either works, I think.)
I meant scares but not it’s scars.
What a lovely way of putting it and to connect people and time and things, and to give us a focus.
I’m glad you think so. That makes it sound like I spent far more time planning this poem and its metaphors than I did. 🙂