Leo Rising

He guessed I was a Cancer.
I laughed.
"Polar opposite, my boy."
Capricorn.
"Ascendants?" he pressed.
"Leo rising. Moon is Sagitarius."
"So you have fire?"
"Some, but it doesn't matter."
I told him I was born in the middle of a blizzard,
that blacked out the night and stopped the world.
He pressed for more details of my stars.
I mentioned my lifelong association
with Taurus, how never in all my days
had I been without a fast friend of that sign.
He rattled off characteristics of me.
Weak bones, weak knees, fear of abandonment,
fierce devotion to family, eyes always on the future.
I looked at Japheth.
"Datura?" I whispered.
"Datura," he replied.
And then I took my leave,
descending the long trail of rusty steps.
Leo rising, indeed.