Not Now. Later.

When my life ends, my watch begins

Image: Enis Can Ceyhan via Unsplash+

This narrative poem, set within my Synaptic Sprawl mythos, is for

Hazel

’s weekly poetry prompt posted on March 23rd, 2025. You can learn more about the prompt here and you can find more stories set within the Sprawl on my Content Directory.

---

I never could live in the moment. 
Not until that day came. 
The one when everything stopped. 
And in that moment, I met him. 

Stars in every direction, 
Not breathing, no heartbeat,
Existing. Somewhere between. 
Am I dead? I ask the void. 

Not dead, he says. Between. 
The future above, the past below. 
The questions come in waves. 
Why am I here? 

There's a war, he tells me. 
Waged between and beyond. 
Bigger than the war inside us, 
Infinite like his lifespan. 

I am no warrior, I tell him.
And yet, you've fought many battles.
Battles waged in your mind, he says.  
Battles waged with my mind, I reply. 

What would you do for them? 
My fists clench. Are they in danger? 
We all are, he replies. 
I would do anything. 

This is not your time, he declares. 
But it is time to make a choice. 
Will you join us when your time comes? 
Take the oath and become a Warden?  

He shows me their creed. 
To stand upon celestial walls. 
To defend every planet and realm, 
across the infinite Sprawl. 

A Warden's watch is eternal. 
Death no longer holds them, 
But they hold our fate, 
In the palm of their hands. 

It is an honor bestowed upon few.
It is for souls that are scarred. 
For souls that know the pain of loss, 
But not for those with fragile hearts. 

When the time comes and your life ends,
we will call upon you, he declares. 
To serve for all time as both protector and guardian. 
As you gaze into the abyss and dare to blink. 

I am resolute. You can count on me.
I picture the faces of my family. 
When my life ends, my watch begins.
Now now, he assures me. Later. 

Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing

Listen to this track after reading, and be sure to check my Content Directory for more stories set within The Synaptic Sprawl!