[James Brancheau]

Hi Hilary—I was very happy to see this bumped up again.

When I first read this, I liked it a lot, but I wasn’t sure about the close. It made for a good way to wrap up, show the dynamics of the relationship (and how it has possibly evolved), but I felt the guiding star thing a little less than fresh. As I have a kind of guiding star (or a star that doesn't do much guiding) in my most recent poem, maybe I was projecting, haha. However, I didn’t see how the poem was using it to contrast with part one’s sun. It’s so (deceptively) simple and beautiful, and, now, not only do I like it, but very much admire what you’ve done here. My only thought is that I wonder if other readers had difficulty making that connection and whether or not the sun should be a little (just a little) more emphasized. (Driving into the sun is intensely annoying...) Probably it’s just me coming late to this realization. Or perhaps my assumption that you’re using the sun/star as a metaphor is wrong in the first place. I hope not because I like it sooo much—it does so much for the poem, imo. Very fine, inspirational work.