Poetry by Cassandra Sarah Pegg

     Christian Collins CC



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Wander


Do not be tempted to leave that well-trodden path, 
even as the wind lays a cold hand on your back
and pushes you towards the trees.

They are dark and the fog has rolled in thickly, 
it covers their roots, shades their trunks, and hides
just how tall they are, how old. 

You may feel that your feet are firmly on dirt
many others have stomped down.
But if you only watch your shoes, 
you’ll look up and see unfamiliar trees.

The wind may whisper that this is the way, follow me, 
But keep your wits about you in these lush green hills, 
They’ll treat you to their beauty just long enough 
to drag you away. 

The sun sets quick here, faster than you can blink,
and maybe you ventured in with someone 
but they are long. gone. Trust me, follow me. 

The wind shifts, it sweeps you away. 
Don’t look back now, there’s nothing to see. 
It twists its hands in your hair, 
blows, unforgiving, in your eyes.

The fog stumbles along beside you, tripping on its trails, 
the divots in the soft dirt that your own legs can’t predict. 

You’re twisting your head back, don’t hide it, I can tell. 
Stranger to these lands, I said trust me. 
If your eyes cry for a glimpse of that far-away road, 
You will find it further than ever. 

You are not going back. Stop looking back. 

The ground’s got ferns for you dear, a mushroom for your head. 
You’ve gone far enough, slouching through these woods. Lay down. 
Lay down. 

The fog kisses your cheek. Maybe it feels for you, but I don’t. 
I warned you, wanderer, to stay on the path. 

If you close your eyes, you’ll be home. Close them. 
The sun will rise again, do not be afraid. 
I will lead you forever, you won’t be alone. 
I’ll send the fog away, wheel stars overhead. 
Lay down and sleep, this has come to an end. 





moon


When the night comes gliding in / and the moon is yellow and full
I would take that dollar out of the sky / And buy you flowers with it.

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Cassandra Sarah Pegg (she/her) is about to start her master’s degree in English at Concordia University. She is the co-founder/co-EIC of Crab Apple Literary and is currently a publishing intern at Renaissance Press. She has fiction and poetry published in Soliloquies Anthology, pixie literary magazine, Hex Literary, Metatron Press’ #MicroMeta Instagram series, All Worlds Wayfarer, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, and some other lovely places.