Poet Joshua Clover and 11 Students May Face Prison Time

stars
By Beth Cortez-Neavel

We were what the stars are made of,

again, and

you peered into my constellations,

and

you were my galaxy.

SuperGiants luminous,

As big as the Milky Way.

We are

fueled by nuclear fusion

converting hydrogen

into helium.

The hotter you get,

The brighter I become.

For five billion years,

I will shine for you.

No matter the distance.

My hydrogen depleted,

your core contracts

outer layers expand.

I explode.

a planetary nebula             supernova            a

white dwarf,              a

neutron star,                         a black hole –

your nuclear fuels depleted,

my hydrogen            less

than before,

I am the void left by our explosion.

In your arms,

in my arms:

We are Star.