polish the stars

the stars have dimmed their tired hearts  

a smudge of wanting coats their edges  

they beckon with whispers too faint  

for us to hear beyond our noise  

somebody go—bring cloth and care  

scrub the heaviness that dulls their light  

the birds grow restless beneath their dust  

and the sky aches for something bright  

we’ve stolen enough of the world below  

let us not forget the world above  

someone must heal the wounds of sky  

lift it back to the glow it craves  

who else will tend to what doesn’t speak  

but still feels its sorrow in quiet hues  

polish the stars as if our lives depend  

on their brilliant love washing over us