About My Star Name (a short, short by Kathryn A. Kopple)

I am a Cancerian, born on the last day of June, in the northern hemisphere, under a petulant moon, of a meager constellation, beneath a proud sun, by a salt basin, next to a crab shack, just left of center, covered in kelp, moist inside and out, not without meanness, clumsy at cutting, double joined, puzzled by words, hard of reading, lost in space, unable to walk a straight line, happiest when alone, miserable when alone, stranger to extravagance, kind in kind, not particular, addicted to eavesdropping, given to the wind, a prisoner of dreams, sometimes mistaken for shrimp, fond of pastry, contrary to popular opinion, learned by sea, often run amuck, handy when in need of a pinch, canned at a supermarket near you.

Kathryn A. Kopple works in Spanish and English. She translates for TED in their outsourcing program. She has published original poetry and prose in numerous publications, including The Threepenny Review, The Bellevue Review and The Shell Game (anthology, U of Nebraska Press). She is the author of Little Velásquez (Mirth Press), a novel set in 15th century Spain, as well as The Leaving Year (Mirth Press), a coming-of-age story.