Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art – John Keats

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art—
were I as far away and dying? Were I you, star,
would my wavering starlight inspire nursery
rhymes? Oh star, if only I were lightyears gone,
leave onlookers starstruck, disappear by morn—
Bright star, how doth thou be so aloof and cool?
How can I twinkle when I’m less starshine,
more starburst—the red flavor, the one no one likes.
Less Eremite, more Jezebel, less pure than you, star.
You’d never let these bastards break your heart, no, you’d
supernova the shit out of them, vaporize to stardust.
I’m stuck sipping Starbucks and crying about capitalism.
Could I learn to be like you, starling in training, but
I’m stuck stargazing, dreaming of upward swing.

– Sarah Karowski