We Are All Broken Under Starlight Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

we are all broken under starlight-
threading ourselves through mazes not
always of our own creation-

or through needles when the thread
knots up and snaps off unexpectedly-

marshaling ourselves with an
ancient carnival soundtrack
against so much indifference;

burning out too early-

rising again in some other sky
where the census takers
won't be so oblivious.

\mary angela douglas 18 february 2005; 28 september 2023