his mom gone at only eight,
a child lost and confused
his only clarity found on a mix tape
that if he could be in control of one thing was his name -
"starlord"
so innocent for twenty-two only to regain
his past.
shoved and pushed into a fish-eye view of the universe
trying not go insane
maneuvering his way around the stars
navigate
orienting his only human body into something inhumane
a guardian
people would call him,
he would hug his steel helmet around his brain
and see his world as it really is:
bright red
suffocates
but still manages to plaster a smile,
dumb jokes in his teeth to entertain
that if only somehow his scrabble of a life could turn
"fright" into "light"
but for god's sake
there is no light in black holes
a view opaque
only galaxies revolving around them,
other supernovas about to collapse
to conceal their fate