Shooting Star (for Douglas)

(November 13, 2007)
Douglas was my nephew. He was barely in his twenties when he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle.


I saw a shooting star
          last night
in a foggy sky,
quickly shot through the dark—
          too quick.
A glance away
          and you would miss it.
I guess that's what makes them
          special.

A speck of light falling
          to wherever stars go.
And if you happened to glance
          it's descent,
you've connected with the heavens.

But the connection is cut short
          and regardless of your ties
          or knots untied;
no matter the light years
          or miles that separate,
we are all still connected
to the shooting star.