Red Supergiant to the West

Sometimes it is difficult

to discern

whether or not the stars 

are aligning

or about to explode.

I go all in either way

Once upon a time 

while bartending,

I felt a cork slip

my grip,

time stood still as the track light

caught each drop of floating champagne,

the word “kaleidoscope” was born,

Oasis crossed my mind,

and I didn’t care about the future

(the mess I was making). 

This is Supernova, 

the brightest waterfall

I would ever stand in,

my final thought before 

time reconvened 

Tonight when I saw

that red star twinkling

it was hard to look away

I wanted to stare

until it disappeared 

Not to witness it’s end,

but to participate 

in that moment

when it outshines

an entire galaxy,

swallowing time 

in its wake