Blue Pines

I consulted my stars
during a dry spell in the plains

they told me to lie down in the grass
make a blanket of the leaves

told me to build a fire
in the season when the sky grows cold

told me age is just a number
until it kills you

warm in the bones where the ache melts

told me the trees will always love you
but they alone cannot protect from the storm

told me that even saints will cheat
when they’re trying to save the soul of a sinner

told me clocks of time are just illusions
so add another hour when you’re feeling slow

I spoke to my ghosts
in the night with the moon hung low

they told me every choice leads to another
but don’t forget to breathe

Scott Thomas Outlar is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He now lives and writes in Frederick,
Maryland. His work has been nominated multiple times for both the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. His essay “Daydreaming Dystopia” placed second in the 2023 Bellarmine Goes Gonzo Writing Contest.