he looked at her

like she was the sun. that is,

he squinted and cowered in the face of her

absolute radiance.

Years later, someone else looked at her

like she was the moon. that is,

like she had a frog 

hidden in her mottled face 

somewhere.

A decade later, a third man looked at her

like she was darkness. that is,

she was all his pinpricks of light

and of hope 

shining even through his cloudiest day.

In the stars,

both he and I found 

comfort

wonder

inspiration.