Tin Rocket

He stands in the front yard
with eyes closed tight,
arms pressed to his sides.

He has closed out the world
in quiet anticipation of
what is, and is to come.

The countdown begins,
ten, nine, eight, seven,
six, five, four, three, two...

His arms widen a bit
forming long thin fins
to guide his flight.

He begins to tremble
and then shake violently.
...one, we have lift off.

There is a sensation of
his feet leaving the ground
and his body ascending

into the moist morning air,
leaving behind all that
is heavy and harsh.

Wind whistles past him
cooling his red cheeks,
tears tickling his eyes.

As he reaches the higher
realms, his body falls away,
the first stage of his journey.

His unencumbered being
rockets through the celestial
spaces, gaining substance.

His trajectory ends in the
heart of a massive star,
a supernova of Love.

***

Police arrive on the scene
to find the boy's body
lying in the littered yard.

Conspicuous signs of abuse
color his slight form lying
peacefully in the grass,

a look of wonder on his face
and a rusty tin rocket
clutched in his small hand.