Twinkle On, Little Stars

The heavens were ablaze, millions of stars shining, each a different hue. We had found a way to touch each other, star to star, and then we sang. The music of the spheres, no doubt about it, and it was good. It was as if there was no night, and in the day we stars shone just as brightly.

How long did it last? Years and years, so it seemed, or was it only a few months? Then a few stars flickered, but it was nothing- just something in the eye. We carried on, laughing, flirting, sharing our joys and our sorrows. More stars were twinkling now, some had gone out altogether. Still, there were millions- although they didn't seem to shine so brightly as they had done before.

And then all the stars were twinkling. Many went out for good. The night was dark again, with only a few steadfast beacons to reckon by. Old favorites disappeared, and were not replaced. Had it only been a beautiful dream?

At last, the time came for my own star to flicker, and then die out. It was quiet then, all right if you were tired of the noise. In my solitude a single candle burned. I snuffed it, and in anger the snit reproachfully glared red at me, then died.

In the darkness a childhood rhyme came to me:

Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are?
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky
When the blazing sun is gone, when he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light, twinkle, twinkle all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark, thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go, if you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep, and often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye, 'till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are - twinkle, twinkle little star.

Twinkle on, little stars,
and when you are able,
shine brightly down on me,
I was once as bright as the sun.