open letters to no one

angel

you danced through constellations and stardust was always tangled in your hair. the smile you shot me as you twirled was enough to make my heart beat in time with your light steps, and your eyes sparkled brighter than any star I had ever seen in the sky.

I was foolish enough to believe someone as heavenly as you could love me (my feet don't fly- they dig into the earth, heavily rooted underground). I dreamed you might find me interesting enough to rival the sky, and as naive as it sounds, could you blame starry-eyed me?

soon, too soon, I discovered that I'm nothing but steady slow trees and identical green leaves. nature smiles through my eyes and to some, it's beautiful, but not to one with their head in the clouds. what's a forest to the unexplored mysteries and unfathomable wonder of space?

the stars laughed at the flowers I grew for you, but they wilted anyway when you fell and bled galaxies onto my forest floor. the earth wasn't made for beings woven out of suns and moons like you. I know that now, but it doesn't stop me from wondering if you ever feel alone like I do (surrounded by so many cold, cold planets).

my roots guaranteed I could do nothing but watch as you left to explore the universe. I loved the trees and the secrets they whispered to me, the way they always listened, but not as much as I loved you. the matchstick of my woods was nothing to the raging bonfire of space, and I know the rings of Saturn have captured your affection better than I ever could, but I miss you.

I was grounded and you needed to fly, but I still wish I could grow wings or you could stop being so afraid of falling.

my beauty lies in the ordinary things, and I thought it was enough until I saw you.

to anyone listening-
beware the ones with their heads tilted to the stars. they may be the sun of your world but you're only a chain.

(I was never trying to weigh you down, I was only holding your hand. tell the milky way I said hi, and I hope splashed in moonlight and bathed in stars like you dreamed about.)