The Stars

All parents know about this.

                        The Stars

             I am the main character
               in the story of my life
              right up until I married,
                   then I co-starred
                  with my loved one.

    It was hard to concede top billing,
          our names in bright lights.
     With the arrival of our first child
       we now play a supporting role.
             Our wattage is dimming
        in a rapidly fading firmament.

            We slowly came to learn,
                 as our children age 
                and grow around us,
     that we have become a member 
                   of the ensemble,
         with barely a speaking part.
         Like a Greek chorus we are
        relegated to the background,
             mumbling stale truisms 
   and dire warnings, largely ignored.

           Most humbling is learning
         that to the rest of the world
               we are merely extras,
      with a walk-on role and no lines.
           We fill in the background
            and the stars know that
          it all revolves around them,
             in their lovely night sky.

                   In the epilogue,
              the lines that we have
             worked on for decades,
           a deeply moving soliloquy,
                 are difficult to recall.
     The light is unflattering, blinding
                but we can still see
           our sons in the front row.
     With their smiles they assure us
         that we have said our piece.