KarMel Scholarship 2008

Poem

“I am a Shooting Star”

By Jamie Townsend

Desciption of Submission: “a poem regarding the discrimination of same-sex couples, written from the perspective of a shooting star. Many experimental writing techniques are used.” - Jamie

i watched you last night
you were watching me
mumbling a prayer
a wish
in hopes that i would carry it to the gods for you
because you didnt think that any god could hear you in that place

you were standing in a pool of orange sun that
did not ripple when the night air blew past

you held her hand

so soft and absolute

you are the same as her

so people don’t look

or see

you were on an island in a sea of
very lonely broken people
and wet cement

words were tumbling

past your lips so quietly

that the winds ate them up

and nearly pulled you

apart from her

i dont know your world
as i am sure you dont know mine
but i will wait for you
in hopes that i will see you again

and if you say your wish a little louder this time
i will carry it to the gods for you
because i will have heard you

Writer’s note: The lack of punctuation and capitalization is intentional; I do know how to use commas and periods and the like. I chose this method to force the reader to interpret the intonation for themselves, for a more personal impact. I wrote this poem from the perspective of a shooting star to illustrate how differently we see things when we are not embroiled in them ourselves. Think to yourself—How must the product of hate and discrimination look to someone who’s never experienced it before? How would they perceive it? It’s a question I’m trying to answer for myself through this poem.

Thank you for considering my piece.

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