Beautiful- The Legend of the North Star

"Beautiful,"

                  whisper the stars

"You are beautiful."

                 "But how can you say that?"

I whisper back.

                 "Because, child, it is the truth,"

the stars sing into my ears.

                "Surely--  surely you are more beautiful than I?"

I ask, my words carried on the wind to the heavens.

                "Nay, we are but lights in the sky,

                lights that disappear,"

they laugh, their voices soaring through the night.

                "But you are so beautiful, so bright, so- so..."

I am at loss for words,

unable to express their beauty.

               "We only come out at night,

                and sometimes we are not there,"

the stars tell me, as if they know

something that I don't.

               "I know that, but people still love you."

I tell them, crestfallen, for I know

something they do not.

"Ugly."

"Stupid."

"Dumb."

"Trash."

Words that hurt, words that sting,

Swirling in the air around me.

"Useless."

"Dramatic."

"Self-centered."

"Clumsy."

                 "Child, why do you keep thinking of those words?"

the stars ask, concerned.

                "How did you know I was thinking of them?"

I reply, startled.

                "We know your heart, love, we know your heart,"

they say, voices blending into one. 

                "Don't listen to people who can't show kindness,"

the stars tell me, their voices smooth and soothing.

               "You are a beautiful light, brighter than any other,"

they whisper comfortingly.

               "N-no I'm not.

               I'm not beautiful.

               I'm not a light,"

I cry, my voice cracking and trembling. 

              "You do not believe us?

               Then we will  show you."

Suddenly the sky is bright,

The stars shine like candles,

And I am swept off my feet.

              "Where are you taking me?"

I cry, scared and shaking.

              "We are making you the

              brightest star in the world,

              the one that everyone

              will see no matter what,"

the stars sing with voices like angels.

             "But how?

              How will I be the brightest star?

              I'm not good enough,"

I tell them, my mind full of doubt. 

             "Yes you are, child.

              You were born for this.

              This is your destiny,"

they sing to me, as they place me among them. 

I can see the whole world,

All the planets and other stars. 

I look down to see that I am glowing.

            "What's happened to me?

             Why am I here?

             Why am I like this?"

I ask, my voice filled with fear.

The stars laugh, a tinkling, bell-like sound.

            "You, child, are the North Star.

            People will look to you for an eternity.

            And do you know why?"

I shake my head.

           "It is because you are beautiful."