It is the perfect night
To get lost in the stars
And the flakes
That pop wild from the fire
And drift toward the sky.

It is the perfect night
To feel like the world is nothing
more than the people
circling the fire

But it’s hard
At times
To connect
With people

So I connect with the stars
And the bursting fire

“I love you” I whisper
To the stars.
“What?” Baldwin asks

And without warning
The stars and the fire
Take their place amongst the background

And I notice every face 
Around the fire
Staring at me

“I was talking to the fire”
I mumble in Baldwin’s direction
without meeting his eyes.