A Rumor About Shooting Stars

My father said that shooting stars

were new souls come down to earth.

I believed him until Mrs. Sweeny

my 5th grade teacher said, "Dan, what are meteorites."

I replied, “they are new souls come down to earth.”

Mrs. Sweeny corrected me

with a nickel and iron rebuttal

that took my father's light away from me.

Never again did I hear

anyone even suggest

that shooting stars were

souls come down to earth.

So, here's your part in this.

The next time

you hear someone talking about meteorites,

please add

the rumor about the souls.