Stars (Symbol)
Stars appear in this poem as both the titular "dead stars"—whose elements comprise our human bodies—and the many constellations above in the night sky. Limón builds them into a complex symbol at the heart of the poem, representing humanity's innate power and capacity for good. They are a throughline connecting humanity to our stellar roots and to that which is larger than us (and within us). For the speaker, this kinship is a reason to set our dreams and sights high in utopic visions of justice and unity. She lists constellations when trying to broaden her mindset beyond her immediate suburban surroundings. By the end of the poem, she imagines that we (current humans) become like constellations for future people to admire. In this way, the stars populate the poem as a community that the speaker aspires to join, or at least a legacy to honor through her actions.
Suburbia (Motif)
Though Limón's speaker soars into a flight of thought about stars and environmental justice, the poem maintains as its constant backdrop the setting of a suburban street. The titular stars are accompanied in the poem's image system by trash and recycling bins, and we imagine the poem taking place on a quiet suburban curb at night. These recurring images serve as an important backdrop to the poem's visions of survival and justice. It is a duality: while the street and trash cans may seem humble, small, and mundane, Limón moves us as readers toward a reminder of what is transcendent and large within us and even within this scene.
