“Hold it near the edge
Tie it like a knot,
And make sure it’s
Not too loose, and also not too tight”
I recite to myself
As I gently grasp the paper ribbon colored bright

The paper flutters
A beautiful bird
Wanting to break free
I catch the end
And loop it in, the pentagonal knot successfully completed

“Fold the longer piece down
And over and over again,
Skipping a side,
Until you have none remaining”
I remember watching, getting confused
As my cousin taught me, with step-by-step training

My hands tremble
An earthquake created by the fear
Of crushing the delicate strip
I take a deep breath
Fold the end down, flip it, fold it, and yet again flip

“Once you reach the end
Slip the end part in
Make sure it won’t fall out
Of the little pocket formed, see?”
I search for the little pocket of paper
A result of the countless folds completed previously

The final pentagon is formed
A bubble, impossible to burst, waiting,
A slate of marble, patiently sitting
A masterpiece soon to be carved out of it
Only one final step remaining, the final step before quitting

“Pinch the edges in,
Right in the middle
Try to get it even,
To finish creating a paper star”
The pentagon dances on my palm
A ballerina, doing exercises on the barre

The paper star has been completed
Added to the collection of stars
Building up in a small glass vase
Accumulating, as I ponder:
In which location, would it look best placed