The Desert King

by Addison Curran

One day I met a little boy in the desert 
And he called me by my name
“What a strange little boy”, I thought.

He told me of treasures from far and wide
And of the times that he’d lived and died
He asked me if I dreamed of sheep 
And of running
And of quiet mornings in a sunlit kitchen
With the warm scent of coffee brewing.

He asked me if I remembered
When forests still grew
And when the ground was full and green and kind
And I said “Yes. I do.”
“Tell me a story,” he replied, 
“About when the Earth was full and green and kind
And loved you like it had a heart.”
And I said “Child, the Earth always had a heart
Until the snake tore it out.”

The little prince nodded his tiny gold head
“The heart is not for surviving
But for living.
The snake robs the Earth
Because he cannot imagine what he’d be
Without her.
He consumes her because he cannot survive
But must live.”

The prince stood and shook
That halo of curls
Teetering in the desert night
And the fangs that embraced him
Loved him so
For their heart was not for surviving
But for living.

 

Addison Curran is a 16-year old aspiring poet. She recently won an honorable mention for her poem for her annual literary competition. Curran has been inspired by loss, grief and perseverance, and writes mainly about themes of nature, philosophy and spirituality. She hopes to one day have her poetry read widely and inspire people.