city star

You know when you stare at the sky

Out in the countryside where everything is clear?

And you can see all the stars,

Like an explosion of diamonds in a blanket of blue.

And when you go back to the city

Where that blue is orange with smog

And you can only see tiny pinpricks?

I’ve always figured people are like stars,

Some people are countryside stars

Where everything is clear and bright and

Easy to see.

But there’s a whole lot of city stars, too

Covered up by artificial light

Too many people and not enough staring in Wonder.

Those city stars that shine through

Those are the strongest.

Not that the country stars are weak,

Or the invisible city stars,

(Life is just naturally easier or harder for them)

But shining and shining even when

The smog is darkest,

That takes a type of strength that’s hard to learn.

You, you’re a city star.

You’ve got galaxies in your eyes.

God, I wish everyone would stare

And see the wonder in the worlds in your mind.

You shine brighter and brighter every day

Soon, you’ll be there even on the cloudiest night

Or the brightest day.

You’ve been here so long and no one has gazed,

Enraptured by your starlight.

That’s a crying shame

That no one knows of all those beautiful places

Just within their reach but so far away.

You’re a city star.

I’m so sorry and so sad that all that

Smoke and smog are in the way

Of letting people see your shine.

I wish you were a country star

And you could shine easy 

But you aren’t

And you can’t.

You’re a city star,

Whether you like it or not,

And that makes your galaxy eyes so much more

Beautiful.