Forever After Poem by Nadia Daniel

Blatantly disregarding the orders
set down in dark oiled stone
punishment will follow though
they say with a moan
the ghosts of yonder tale and the ghosts upon the sea
that wail and shake and cry and scream
invisibly

ask nothing, I'll tell no lies
but lies will follow;
and in the ashes of those lies
twisted truth will wallow
secretly, soundlessly, mindlessly
till the grave they sink with a minute blink
and a tiny swallow

Wait upon the dusky moon
look out upon the hills
rest your heart, dear one
till the sky blood fills

Wait upon the blinding sun
young and full of hope
till old and decrepit you grow
a long shadow to mope
forever after

turn the page, the cream empty page
of the future
and read the lines, the scrawling black lines
of the past
and seize the pencil, the straight sharp pencil
of the present
and resent
that you were ever born
forever after

take a breath; in each breath lies the secret to your dreams
the gasping, refreshing breath of sunlight and moon beams
and taste the dawning day of dusky notes and dusty sighs
each breath following the other till down it lies
down, down, down to the terrain of darkness (watching)
down, down, down to the cleft of broken dreams (waiting)
watching, waiting, silently debating
on
forever after
echoes of laughter
whispers of secrets
down, down, down

why- they ask
but ask me nothing, I'll tell no lies
ask me why, I'll tell you lies

down, down, down
forever after.