Wish Upon a Star
Remember being a kid and
wishing on a star?
I wish I can get a kitten.
I wish my sister wasn’t so mean.
I wish Mike in 7th period English liked me.
I wish my parents would stop fighting.
When I was a child
I wished as a child…
Now I wish for Fukushima
to be cooled, calmed, and collected
I wish for the Middle East to be at peace.
(Hey, I dream big)
I wish Rush Limbaugh would fade
into the obscurity he so richly deserves
I wish young girls would focus on their brains
and that Jon-Benetathons would vanish
I wish racists would grow
hearts… and minds
I wish on the wind for power
and for fracking to cease
I wish for women to be accorded
the rights and respect we deserve
I wish for justice for all, especially kids
For the world to be fed, clothed
This year, Jupiter is larger and
more visible than we’ll ever see it again.
So I focus on Jupiter,
shining bright in the night sky
If you want to heal a planet,
might as well wish on another planet
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For the Thursday Think Tank at my poetic space station, Poets United, where the prompt was “Wish.”
Sharp Little Pencil 
Hannah Gosselin
Amy, this is SO inspired. Thank you, for now I will say my night time prayers in an echo of your beautiful big wishes. ❤
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Hannah. All started with our admiring Jupiter last month! The “wish” prompt was perfect… Amy
Polly Robinson
Amy, this is simply stunning – always dream big 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Polly, truth: If I hadn’t dreamed “big,” I wouldn’t be here today. Part of dreaming is holding on to what you know is right; the other is planning a future to make it come true. Was a time my mental health was not up to the second half, but thanks to meds and therapy, I’m dreaming big again! Amy
vivinfrance
When you wish upon a star you sure do wish big – and why not? Some of the allusions passed me by, but I get the message, and agree.
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, I understand. You’re across the Atlantic and the political stuff can get confusing sometimes, but I know you know my spirit, and that’s what counts, my friend! Amy
Daydreamertoo
Nothing wrong in dreaming big, it’s how most things are born. I’m with you all the way on all of this 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
So glad. Come the “revolution,” I want you in my trench! All the dreamers. We make the world spin more gracefully. A
Pearl Ketover Prilik
Dear Amer – lovely poem and photograph .. I wish your wishes all become reality :))))
Sharp Little Pencil
Pearl Girl, bless your heart. If I could wave a magic wand and have it be so, I would. Until then, I’m an activist! (wink) Amer
Lance
Add – ” I wish rock and roll would matter again” and you’ve got my list too.
a little wistful on a punk rock blog like yours is perfect. more please.
Sharp Little Pencil
Lance, am I a “punk rock blog”? You do know I’m 55, right? Ha ha. I do wish that rock and roll mattered… it sure does in our house. Also rootsy rhythm and blues, the gutbucket stuff. Big Mama Thornton’s “Hounddog” makes Elvis look like a wuss!
Lance
also, I’m adding you to my blog roll so i can stay on top on your words like I should.
Sharp Little Pencil
You’re on my radar, too, honey! (wink)
hypercryptical
It would be so good if good wishes could become reality…
Anna :o]
Sharp Little Pencil
Let’s keep wishing – but let’s not forget to roll up our sleeves and work for it as well. Anything from calmly correcting bigoted speech (like “that’s so gay” coming from a teenager) to contacting legislators. I’m an activist, so dreams are simply Step One for me! Thanks, Amy
Pamela Smyk Cleary
Awww… love this Amy! “might as well wish on another planet” — indeed! Have been enjoying reading — and playing “Poetry Ping Pong” — with you! So… I stopped by today to share some Liebster Award cyber-hugs-and-cupcakes. I know you’ve seen them before, but am hoping you’ll enjoy them anyway. 🙂 (Details — though you already know them — can be viewed here on my blog: http://wanponpopix.blogspot.com/2012/05/wow-liebster-blog-cyber-cupcakes.html) NOTE: I added an additional comment for recipients of multiple Liebsters. 😉
Sharp Little Pencil
Just so everyone knows, I’ll also respond here. I am truly honored you would think of me, Pamela, but I never do the “awards” because if I do one, I have to do them all… and as you can see, I’m always so damned late with answering comments, along with other responsibilities. And those cupcakes looked so good!
Don’t hate me, OK? (wink) Amy
purplepeninportland
Couldn’t agree more with your wishes. The last 4 lines were truly wonderful.
Sharp Little Pencil
PIP, thanks so much. I was determined on the ending before I even started the poem. Then I got all biblical with the “when I was a child, I wished as a child…” but it still worked. Thanks, babe, Amy
Mary Mansfield
Love this Amy! It’s so true how our wishes get bigger as we get older, but now I think we understand that the best way to make them come true is to work for them. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen, sister. Spoken like a true activist. Feeding the hungry isn’t just at the local pantry – it’s pressuring legislators in Washington to do more for Darfur, etc. Same with helping out with the global threat at Fukushima. Honestly, I’m so sick of Congress and their lame response to all issues. I want to boot them out in to the real world and see how long they’d last! Thanks, Mary, Amy
Renee Espriu
Hear! Hear! The bigger the wish the better I always say. If you can’t wish big, I say either don’t wish or go home. Love every line!:)
Sharp Little Pencil
Renee, you’re my kind of dreamer! Amy
Joyce
Hi Amy-today is my 55th birthday. I had a good day and then I read your wonderful poem about wishing on stars. It felt like a birthday gift to me and I just want to say thank you. It also brought back memories. I used to wish on stars when I was a kid.
Sharp Little Pencil
Joyce, so glad to hear from you. So you caught up to my 55, huh? Glad I could bring a smile and some nice memories on your big day. Have a happy birthday. Blessings to you! Amy
Joseph Harker
I like that concept of wishing on a planet to heal another planet… pinpoint-accurate that is. And those are some potent wishes to hope for; may it be so!
Sharp Little Pencil
Joseph, it came to me when I was pondering why Jupiter is larger than we’ll ever see it this year. That, along with the “wish” prompt, was all I needed to scribble away… Glad to see you here, my friend. Peace, Amy
whimsygizmo
Love this, Amy. The biblical reference, “Jon-Benetathons,” the idea of wishing on the wind for power. Beautiful.
Sharp Little Pencil
De, I knew you’d get Corinthians! Good girl. And the Jon-Benetathons are really directed more at the misguided parents – the moms for pushing, and the dads for taking the hands-off approach… thanks for a great comment. Amy
zongrik
you are such a wonderful person who wishes for such important things. thank you for caring
care for those aged until the end
Sharp Little Pencil
Tammy, another sweet comment. I know we all care, as much as our hearts can hold… Coming over now – THANKS for the link!
El Guapo
Dream as big as you possibly can.
Sharp Little Pencil
That’s real encouragement, there, Guapo, and I agree. Peace, Amy