Seven Stolen Stars

© Helen Bell 2006

In seven sealed jars, She keeps seven stolen stars
They're kept down in the cellar,
Under seven locks on seven doors
And she sits under electric light, Up upon the seventh floor
While I stare sadly into seven spaces in the sky

He saw the spinning moon and wished to own its shimmer
He netted it down into his garden one day
And there it lay, as grey as any other rock,
its glimmer gone, he left it dead and sped away.

Now the sun sobs, mirrorless, Behind the empty night
Down below bewildered stares are blind without the light
And some are dark with anger but they can't see who to fight

No-one can see the way anymore.

In seven sealed jars, She still has the stolen stars
and under her electric light, she never doubts that she is right
and she has quite forgotten that the seven stars are there
while I still miss the seven flares that used to gild the air.

No-one can see the way anymore.