Shooting Star

I followed her over the countryside,

I followed her near and far,

She said that she had to live her life

Alone, as a shooting star.

‘The world began when I came to be

Will be gone,’ she began to shout,

‘When I leave my trail, a silvery tail

And the Moon and the stars go out.’

 

‘But what about love,’ I called to her

As she shimmied by in the breeze,

Her eyes were fixed on the future as

I settled down on my knees.

‘I haven’t got time for love,’ she said

‘It fades, and swallows my life,

There’s more to living what I’ve been given

Than being somebody’s wife.’

 

‘The world out there is a lonely place

When you wander its wilds alone,

You’ll need somebody to hold your hand

In the dark, when you’re on your own.’

‘I don’t need someone to tie me down

I shall steer my course for me,

No man shall tug at my either hand

Or change my trajectory.’

 

‘My heart is full of my love for you,’

I said, but she didn’t care,

She laughed, and hurried away to find

What life had in store for her.

I caught a sight of her now and then

As she lived her life to the full,

With greedy lips at the brimming cup

As she drained the life from her soul.

 

The years were cruel as she partied on,

Her hair became iron grey,

Her skin was losing that youthful bloom

With the drugs that she took each day,

The money lenders were out in force

So she had to swallow her pride,

And sell herself when she had to pay,

But then she shrivelled inside.

 

She landed up on my doorstep only

Once, and I thought she’d fall,

She looked so ill that my heart went out

But my skin began to crawl,

‘So what became of the shooting star?’

I said - She began to pout,

Then tears welled up at her eyelids as

Her Moon and her stars went out.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Wórdsmíth]

Wonderful! Too many amazing and loving moments of your life with your beautiful life are captured in the poetic words with your muse. I like the concept which's based on emotions. Beautiful poem! ;)

[Avinash]

Beauty and youth both depreciate with time and only wise investment is the true relationships which you make.

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Such a sad and tragic story....great storytelling as always David...

[Jane Dougherty]

As you can imagine, I enjoyed this poem a lot! The ending is particularly strong. The star imagery is lovely.

[TL Boehm]

always mechanically brilliant and equally tugging at my heart with this one.

[Ayushi]

I feel so sad for the lady you have described..
Again you storytelling and writing skills are great and I liked this one a lot :)

[Claire in VA]

'Tis sad, yes, but she brought it on herself.
I wasn't expecting SUCH a tragic end.
Fantastic. You must be approaching 1,000.
Enjoyed.
:) C. in VA

[Draven]

I usually don't get tears from what I read on this site, but I had to shed them here. What a sad story.