The first poem I felt remotely proud of

(inspired by The Darkest Minds, by Alexandra Bracken)

In the afterlight,

Through the dark

Toward the Amber sky

Past the brook,

Near the Fog

Is where the Fairies lie


Ride the four Winds,

Scour the seven Seas

Do what you must 

To put yourself at ease


Deceit, lies, and trickery

Are all part of the game

For if you use them properly

You’ll win yourself some fame


Walk through Fire,

Dive through Earth

Go to the place no humans dwell

There you shall find the highway to Hell


Jog North for two hours

Then West for one more

And stop when you get 

To a brightly colored door


A door is just a beginning

Head off farther North still

Until spotting a mountain of Ice

From the vantage, if you see

A great big storm 

That’s your cue

For the final sacrifice


“Never fade”

Their sweet faces would plead

“Oh but I must!”

And then you would leave

By horseback, by zeppelin

On Land or on Water

By Sea or by Air


In the afterlight,

Through the dark

Toward the Amber sky

Past the brook,

Near the Fog

Is where I now lie


Memories and Misery,

Thoughts and Shadows

I’ve been forced to go incognito

Find me, find me by the old oak tree

Staring at the sunset, that is where I’ll be