The Stars
One night, saying his prayers
At his window, the boy noticed
A few stars trembling over the city
As if about to fall
And sure enough
The next night they were gone.
The next morning,
Following his mother through the market,
He saw a man wearing one,
Then a woman, another man,
Two more women, a boy his age.
Everyone who was wearing one
Avoided meeting his eyes,
As if they were afraid of being
Accused of stealing stars.
He was jealous of the boy’s.
He asked his mother
Could he have one.
She shushed him like when
He asked her for a toy
He saw in one of the shop windows
When he knew good and well
They were only going out for bread.