Author name: Hayden Veil

In an earlier incarnation, Hayden Veil enjoyed a successful career in software engineering, writing late-night poetry in pursuit of sanity. On 2 February 2020, the world of Hayden Veil changed: Ghosts became real and with its soul laid bare there was no turning back from the perpetual path of poetry.

I PRETEND

I pretend not to notice
their eyes are
elsewhere
studying the floor
as I approach

I pretend not to care
absence of a
friendly nod, a smile,
just something to
acknowledge Iโ€™m
actually there

I pretend not to know
people talking
spreading lies
as oil on water
sharpened knives
cutting deep
without visible
tissue scarring

I pretend all is good
throughout the day
trying hard to make
the day last
longer, the night
gets shorter as the
fog grows thicker and
the ice melts quicker

I pretend
as long as
I can

HOME

Darkness embraced the land as he wrapped himself in the cloak of courage, donned the boots of bravery and the mask of mores.

On that starlit night the gate was lowered, and so the path to freedom anew.

He untethered his mount, waited; sighed and turned back, back to the only place he knew. The place they call – home

PRECIOUS SECRETS

I looked into the crystal ball
a mad eye stared
right back at me
I opened my mouth
so slight
scared to let my breath
escape
the fog so clear
the whispering wind
fearless demons
roamed within
the shadows hide
what not to see
precious secrets of
life-to-be

TOMORROW MAY STILL COME

No

Iโ€™m too tired to live fast

No

Iโ€™m too old to die young

No

I wonโ€™t be a beautiful corpse

But

Make me a dream

With

Stars and a unicorn

And

Wrap me up warm

In your

Loving embrace

And

Tomorrow may still

Come

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