Behind the Painted Stars
On the Grand Central dome, gold Pegasus
leaps across a vaulted turquoise sky,
one eye concealing the writing
of a proud worker who cleaned, then signed
the mural in 1940. A blur of commuters pass through—
I’ve even seen a few pause to gaze
at the astral display of 2,500 gilded stars
spread high above them.
Some actually smile, unaware of what lies
underneath the constellations: names
of returning soldiers and railroad employees,
wedding dates, and behind bare-footed Gemini in orbit,
a birth announcement for twins,
one wit’s secret pleasure.
The Koaly, Your Pocket-Sized Emotional Healer
—Found Poem on My Phone
Ultra-soft fur and weighted design
create a soothing “being held” sensation.
Emotional connection: Designed to combat loneliness—
feels like a companion, not just a plush but a hug
you can keep.
The way it fits into your arms is almost human,
like someone leaning in for a cuddle
when you need it most.
(Video of “Koaly” nuzzling the shoulder, neck, and cheek
of a young woman. Video of her lying in bed,
stroking the plush bear on her pillow.)
Scene switch to a young man: I’m obsessed.
The moment I held Koaly, I felt calmer. It’s like having
a little pocket of peace in my arms.
Maria Terrone’s poetry collections are No Known Coordinates (2025); Eye to Eye, A Secret Room in Fall (McGovern Prize, Ashland Poetry Press), The Bodies We Were Loaned, and two chapbooks. Her work, published in French and Farsi, has appeared in media including Poetry and Ploughshares and in 30+ anthologies from publishers including Knopf and Beacon Press. Other credits: At Home in the New World (essays) and poetry editorship of the journal Italian Americana. She lives in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Innisfree 43
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