Celestial Glue

I remember the first time

I asked my father about

the celestial glue holding stars to the sky.

Why don't they just… fall?

Um, well…

This led to a highly detailed explanation.

Engineer at heart, he had a duty to explain all. 

Until mother said:

stop bothering him and go to bed. 

father.

why would you try

to teach rocket science

to an eight year old?

It sounded like magic. 

He called it “science”. 

Years later I see no difference.

The stars in the sky are held

by a celestial glue that's

just a little different than

what I imagined years ago.

I remember the first time, 

two wide eyes so much like mine

looked up and asked in Rohingya:

“Older sister, why does the Moon change?”

When I heard her question,

I recalled my first step I took to feverish curiosity

and my father who unknowingly lit it

How that act gifted me a love of learning.

From the telescopic stars to the microscopic of philosophical brain chemistry

So. Why not answer.

A childish question

in honesty?

I sat with the rest of the refugee girls

and spoke all sorts of science.

Well, you see…