"A Cup of Stars" Inspired by This Poem is a Nest:

A Cup of Stars

I used to sit at the west-facing window

in my apartment every night,

wishing upon the lights of other windows

as they flickered off one by one.

I would sit and dream of nights far from me,

of windows that looked out on land

without a building to mar the horizon.

I imagined looking out at the field

and finding happiness in a quick light

flicking on and off

with no apparent source.

I felt the rush of air too slow to keep up

and the cold grass on my feet

because I didn’t want to stop for shoes.

I would take a jar with me, of course,

and catch a few glowing lights from the night.

I would look down in the jar

and wish upon the lights of fireflies

each time they lit up.

I would laugh at my city self

for my dreams of wishing on fireflies.

If I were really to sit at a window

and look out on a land without others' lights,

I would go out on a night

when there were no fireflies in the sky.

I would lie down on the cold grass

because I didn’t want to stop for a blanket,

and look up at the lights they say fill the sky.

I would take a jar with me, of course,

and catch a handful of stars

to take back to my apartment

so I could wish on starry light from my window.