To Be a Star There he was on stage In a small cafe Before a couple dozen people, Singing of dreaming Of being a star. Now you know And I know What he meant by that. But still ... To be a star, A jewel in the night sky of a hundred worlds Whose travelers look for you To guide them home to where their children make wishes for their speedy safe return When you appear In the sky Of soft summer evenings To be wished on. To be a star, To be looked up to by seers and sages Seeking inside information on the doings of the gods Or what is written for the future Or what time and space are made of And why things are As they are. To be a star -- To be a superstar? The brightest thing in the heavens of a thousand worlds, Burning yourself up at a furious rate for a scant few million years, Then going out in a final blaze of glory And a quick fall into obscurity, Pulling your hole in after you? To be a star Is not necessarily to outshine the galaxy. But it is to shine brightly enough To be seen And known And loved. Thomas G. Digby written 0250 hr 6/29/77 type 0345 hr 7/09/77 entered 1650 hr 4/11/92 format 14:07 12/22/2001