One short stride of a child, to obtain
a starry blanket amidst his toys
crumpled between tracks and trains
engines and freight cars under his toes

One small dog scurries away at the sight
of an unsteady boy stomping ferociously
top heavy under his new height
wrapping and thrashing in serenity

Scattered patches of matte gold stars
were stitched to this azul blanket
and stretched across unfolding arms
sending coos through a room, otherwise bare

This secular blanket has been dragged through
various kitchen floors, picked up dust
snagged on loose floorboard nails, ruined
and torn with his clothes through the decades

Now a horn can be heard in the distance
oncoming train descends the horizon
tired, weary, out of patience
anxious to ride the train back home.