I bought a flashy star
on the installment plan.
The salesman who sold me on it
promised the first sight of my star
would last me a lifetime —
guaranteed!
“Where is my star?
I want to see it.”
“Of course you do,”
the salesman said.
“You’ll glimpse it in
the summer sky
on your last payment —
guaranteed!”
Just as he said,
one August night
my start went shooting
through the summer sky,
leaving a streak of light
where it had been.
Just as he said,
I never did forget
that glimpse of my flashy
disappearing star,
which vanished before
I could make a wish
to have all my installments
back again.
Robert J. Lowenherz