First: The Belt

When you named yourself Orion
I remember thinking
that’s a bold choice.

Not Cassiopeia.
Not something subtle.

Orion.

The most recognizable constellation in the sky.
The one everyone points to first.
Three bright stars in a straight line
cutting right through the center
of the whole damn thing.

Quite confident.

After that, I started wearing Orion.

First, just the belt.
Three small stars
fastened tight around my throat.

The middle star is sometimes called a string of pearls.
I did notice that.

Eventually I escalated to the whole constellation.
The one with ORION etched into it
in case the sky forgot.

People assumed it was astronomy.

Which was convenient.

At one point, I even tried to show you—
tilted my bag so the pins caught the light.

Orion right there
next to I ♥ queer artists.

You got distracted by Ferris Bueller.
Which honestly felt on brand.

Anyway.

Orion is arranged
like someone standing.

Broad shoulders in the dark.
Belt fixed straight across the middle.

The kind of posture
that doesn’t ask for attention.

It just gets it.

It’s a very masculine constellation.

Hard to miss.

Every winter
Orion rises back into the sky
right in the center
like he owns the place.

Broad shoulders.
That belt again.
Still showing off a little.

The one everyone points to first.

I still notice him first.