The Southern Delta Aquarids
dance through the heavens,
reaching their peak this year
on the 65th anniversary
of my birth,

breathtaking meteors
streaking the sky at
at 25 miles per second.

A tiny few leave behind
trails of glowing ionized gas
that stick around for a few
seconds after the fireball
has gone,

which makes me long
to be atop a mountain,
watching, whispering
my thanks to the universe
for getting me here, in the dark,
brimming with astonishment,
eager to see what dawn
will bring.