my stars

so pretty, the brilliance hovering

above the town in the valley

so sad, the light pollution hovering

over the town in the valley

obscure reality

 night sky, even miles from the city

more gray than black

brilliant stars still insist on being seen

but many of their apparent companions

are faded by our neon and LED and arc lights while we try to keep dark reality,

as we try with old age, at bay