My Husband and I Look at the Same Stars from Different Planets

A Centipede1 After Tim Moder


Instead of giving in

I would give up

so easily2

I look up into

the descending dome

the night’s faint green3,

turning to black

and

yet I

continue to

still

live with

hope

the knowledge4—

how inevitable

how lovely5—the earth is

a living thing6

going on like this

that knows

what it means to

cheat death7

together

1 A centipede is an original form, created by poet Tim Moder, which combines a cento on the left column and an original contrapuntal on the right column.

2 Natalie Diaz

3 Chase Twitchell

4 Mary Ruefle

5 Aimee Nezhukumatathil

6 Lucille Clifton

7 Taylor Byas

Frances Klein, a white woman with dark brown hair in a pixie cut. She is visible from the waist up, standing, looking at the camera, with her hands in her back pockets. She is wearing a black, crew neck shirt with short sleeves. Behind her is a fence, and behind the fence are trees. There is snow on the ground in the background.

Frances Klein (she/her) is an Alaskan poet and teacher. Klein is the author of the book Another Life (Riot in Your Throat, 2025) and several poetry chapbooks, including (Text) Messages from The Angel Gabriel (Gnashing Teeth Press, 2024). Klein’s writing has appeared in Best Microfictions, The London Magazine, Rattle, The Harvard Advocate, HAD, and others.