watching fireworks

i close my eyes on the night
knew you when your skin glowed with
grey-bright, black ink pulses
of celestial brilliance

i reach up to write with stars' light
tracing pathways through milky clouds

i want to feel small and cold and connected
a smooth rock shaved by river's rush
flail of the current--held tight by gravity

so i will open myself again to a moment
fireflies and the smell of fireworks
stretched on a blanket in heaven's cradle,
alone--not empty--and touched by everything,

tail lights want escape and honk frantically
i am above it all, and in it
spend each minute counting one blade of grass
in strobing, exploding light
tree branches scratching the darkness, aching again
to know when dawn will break open the night