• Week 42 • Quartern •

A Sisterhood of Stars

we stood, a sisterhood of stars,
together, on the verge of cold,
our feet in the warm rot of old
tales, leaves, earth and season, and scars

borne of fire within and without.
we stood, a sisterhood of stars,
planted there, ready vessels, jars
of light and breath. a wordless shout

to the above; and when the sky’s
embroidered scarf loosened her ties
we stood, a sisterhood of stars.
moon threw back her head, laughed at mars,

waited to collate our howls
into one wavering note, vowels
drawing taut, all of us quasars –
we stood, a sisterhood of stars.

The quartern is a French poetry form, similar to a Kyrielle. It has 16 lines, 4 quatrains, and a refrain that drops down a line each stanza until it becomes the final line in the final stanza.