Stars

I remember when stars had five points

and were scribbled, waxy yellow

with crayoned black outline.

Always at the front of class

closest to the board and a teacher’s pet,

A small price to pay.  Still, I squinted.

The eye exam at age 9

Was a test I could not pass,

My last-place prize:

Brown plastic-rimmed glasses.

Sighing, I slumped

against the cold car window

and I looked up

Scattered pinpricks of light

So sharp, I gasped

Night looked like this now

And the stars were mine.