Kiss Me Before You Leave

As I sit on the rock

warmed by the midday sun

I think about what I’m leaving behind

“Don’t leave me and Carson!”

“I have to!”

“I know what you’ve done.”

“I know. But I promise…

I promise you I’ll return under the summer sun.”

“But which one? I can’t bear the thought of being without you.”

“I don’t know. I may be gone but a short time, or it may be long.”

“How will I know you’re okay?”

“When the crab of the night sings its song.”

“What does that mean,

I don’t understand!”

“There is so little time, I must go

to the place of purple sands.”

“Then…then at least kiss me before you go.”

“You know I can’t do that, Heidi”

“Why not?”

“I have to be focused, hiding.”

I remember holding her head,

one single, golden braid in hand

before I turned my back on her

and departed my land

(Author’s Note: I took these pictures during my WAMTAC (Walters Art Museum Teen Art Council) meeting, which will take place every Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30pm. I wasn’t assigned to take pictures, but I felt inspired to write. What better to do after looking at art than creating art? You can visit Baltimore’s best art museum (in my opinion) Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Thursdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m.)