A Special Birthday Cento (Poem)

She ran her fingers down the bodice of her dress,

as she walked along the soil,

her bare toes deep in the mouth of the earth.

The moon whispered a soft hello,

and a firefly landed on the bridge of her nose.

It was so beautiful, the night,

full of bright stars and sleepy animals,

and a sky so dark,

It appeared fake.

The girl did not quite know where she was headed,

all she knew was she needed a break.

She was so tired,

the girl,

her heart worn thin from pain so raw,

and sharp,

it pierced her skin.

She stopped by a pond,

kneeling down low to see her reflection in the water.

She gasped as she caught a glimpse

of the dried tears on her cheeks.

How long the tracks had been there,

she could not tell you.

Her hands ran up and down her body,

trying to provide some warmth for the sudden chill that ripped through the forest.

Suddenly, a voice erupted from the sky,

stopping the girl in her tracks.

“I ain’t lonely, but I spend a lot of time alone,

I’m pretty good on a lonely night.”

“I struggle sometimes to find the words,

I know you’re hurt, I know it’s my fault,

but you never hit rock bottom, never cursed the sky.”

“You wonder what you’re made of, well, we all find out,

Just close your eyes and say a prayer.”

“It won’t always be like this.”

“Yeah, I know I’m in a better place,

I write these letters to you,

But they get lost in the blue.”

“You were good to me.”

“I see your smile, I see your face.”

“I hope you’re happy now.”

“You’re never alone.”

Note: A Cento is where you use lyrics or work from someone else. The first part was written by me, and anything in dialogue tags are song lyrics.

List of songs I used