This one was pulling me in multiple directions at once, so I will revisit it sometime. Its inspiration was the interesting dynamic between what you see as a sure path, your moment to shine; the reality when you realize life's derailed your plans; and the surprising way in which we are sometimes presented with the wholly unplanned opportunity to rediscover who we really are as we are there for others we would have missed if not for becoming a fallen star. ...For those who might wonder about my recent attempts to rise from the ashes, it seems I am meant to wait a bit longer. But I choose to believe that God will present the opportunity perfectly suited to me and to God's desires for me when the time is right. Living in the meantime and thankful for you all, Dawn
 

But of course,
off course again,
I craved transcendence
and veered toward big cities,
bright lights that might carry me
toward long-awaited destiny.

I aligned myself
with stars just a glimmer
past their prime, dim enough
not to question my audacity when
I chose to break away in a flash
of brilliance I took to be my own.

Why did I never
consider my fate would be
to wait in stillness for those
who’ve come so great a distance,
whose flames really did burn out
before they found their way.

Would that I might shine
for these far greater lights.
That they've yet to comprehend 
hope I would have hoarded
ever even existed for them
makes loss of my own light pale.

Through tears I see stardust,
certain grace sprinkling down
from the God of second chances
who must be laughing with joy
at latent potential: life’s gift
awaiting our discovery.