many stars home again

There were no stars in the sky
that night.

For a moment I wondered
if the stars had finally quit, and walked
to a local bar to cry. Or perhaps to
brawl with other stars, with their
broken green beer bottles
on the sky's infinite bar tab.

My gaze flew down to earth,
the smoke rose from a bowling
alley. I cleared my throat,
nervous. The frantic electricity
in my feet, jumping patterns as
I made my way home.

Two blocks too far, my knees
collapsed. my energy gone
I had not seen a trace
my head slapped the cool
pavement, sensation spread
through my jaws, I could taste
only a blunt metal.

The pain in my side told me
to sleep with the stars, who
had returned for but a minute.
The wind howled, and the stars
twinkled once more.