Silver Cave

On the cost of greatness.

Winter. Another winter away from the world.
Again I wonder whether this was worth it
all. Broken shoes. Bitter fights---the fires I'd
extinguish every time someone else's eyes
caught mine. Hospital visits, where my fainted
rose again as regular miracles of the dead.
Waterfalls, whirlpools, lakes of rage crested,
all that saltwater spume and stench of the sea.

And my partners. Partners? You knew my feelings
at every turn, learned the single tongue
I was taught to conquer all. An endless string
of subjunctives made imperative: my wish
is your command. But that final victory 
never gave me what I could not learn 
to crave---love for another's heart, or
anything to quench this insatiable fire.

Notes

This is the last in a series of poems I wrote this week that were inspired by locations in Kanto, the base region of the original Pokémon games. (Sticklers will note that “Silver Cave,” being located in the neighboring region of Johto, breaks the pattern, but who’s keeping track?) Here are the others:

Sep. 9: Pallet Town

Sep. 10: Viridian Forest

Sep. 11: Vermilion City

Sep. 12: Seafoam Islands

Sep. 13: Cinnabar Island

Sep. 14: Victory Road