Photo: Tiffany Bessire

when the day comes

Inspired by The Day

by Alora Young

Inspired by The Day

When the day comes

Let it nip at your bones like the bitter cold in the depths of Lake Superior

When the day comes let it

Take you

Swallowed by the fervid sea

Let your memories flash and dwindle

As the fire does

Let the embers hold kind words

Let them hold kisses

When the day comes to die

Don't fear the empty

Just wonder what it means to know

God

Wonder if it means to know god

And when your children say I love you

Into nothing

Pray your ghost answers.

When the day comes don't be

Startled

By your own phantom

When the day comes leave the red lines on the door

Leave your blessings in the will

Become at one with being still

And hope that when it comes

You don't fear that goodbye

About

Alora Young

Alora Young: Alora is a junior at Hillsboro High School, and has been writing all her life. She is the chief editor of her school’s literary magazine, an actress, a dancer, and a musician. She is an active reader and supporter of local theatre.

Art Wire is an ongoing creative writing fellowship from OZ Arts and The Porch. Each performance season, a cohort of writers is selected via application to attend a variety of OZ Arts presentations and respond to each work through original writing that is personal, playful, and deeply engaged.

Throughout the season, original Art Wire writings will be added to this website, showcasing the inspiration and interpretations captured by this year's cohort.