my childhood friend had a black blanket adorned with stars
on some days
we’d turn out the lights
clasp hands
lay on the blanket,
not speaking,
and pretend we were swimming through the night sky

sometimes i wonder what it would be like
to step into that star freckled darkness
and drift…

i imagine it would feel cool and damp,
like an early spring morning,
and the stars would be small spots of warmth
that would momentarily raise gooseflesh on my 
moon-pale limbs 
before i drifted past

the silence would be complete,
tranquil,
and everlasting