Keith E. Sparks Jr. has been writing from a young age. He has had his work published in various literary journals and magazines and has been nominated for the Pushcart Poetry Prize. More recently he has published various solo collections of poetry that are available through Amazon and other venues. Shadowfall, a Collection of Darkly tinted Sonnets, being his most recent. Keith resides in West Virginia with his wife and three children whom are the epicenter of his existence.

Ally And Sally May

I met my new best friend one day 
while playing hide and seek.
The best of friends a girl can have 
today or any week.

While hiding in the bushes 
so no one else could see.
I found a brightly colored egg 
covered in some weeds.

I gently brushed the weeds away
and wiped off all the dirt.
I rubbed it oh so gently 
with the bottom of my shirt.

It wasn't just one color. 
It had blue and red and green.
I'm sure it was the largest egg 
that I had ever seen.

Far bigger than a hummingbird
a robin or a wren.
Bigger than a big Ole crow 
or a mother hen’s.

But I didn't see its mother 
so I couldn't know what kind,
or know exactly what it was 
the egg must have inside.

I wondered what its mother was 
and where she might have gone.
"Why had she gone and left her egg 
in a place it doesn’t belong?"

That really had me worried 
about leaving it alone.
But the egg was far too heavy 
for just me to carry home.

So as I sat there thinking 
about what I should do
I heard a gentle tapping 
as I reached to tie my shoe.

The egg now had a little crack 
running down one side.
It started out real tiny, 
but then it opened wide.

What was inside was a surprise 
that I did not expect.
A scaley little creature 
with wings and a long neck.

It's eyes were brightly colored, 
one purple and one blue,
And set out wide above a snout 
of tiny teeth to chew.

It's tongue was long and flicked about 
as if to taste the air
and a set of golden horns 
peeked out its tuft of hair.

Its purple scales were shiny 
and glittered in the sun. 
But when I realized what it was 
I felt like I should run!

A dragon, yes that's what it was 
It's what it had to be.
I was worried that it's mom 
would come back and eat me.

So I prepared to walk away 
and gave the beast a pat.
But as I turned to leave that day 
the dragon stole my hat!

It ran away and down the hill 
expecting me to chase
and as I tried to get my hat 
it turned into a race. 

We ran and played and romped around 
Until the sky grew dark
And rain clouds started forming high 
Up above the park.

The dragon’s mom did not appear 
and I had to go home.
I couldn't leave it in the rain 
all cold and all alone. 

So I took it home with me 
and snuck it to my room.
It promptly jumped up on my bed 
and took a dragon snooze.

My mom was making dinner, 
my dad would be home soon.
I wondered what they'd think about 
the dragon in my room.

I bet they'd let me keep it 
if I promised to be good
and take good care of my new pet 
as any owner should.

So I ran to find my mom 
to ask her what she thought
and tell her all about the baby 
dragon that I caught.

"A dragon dear? Oh me oh my 
I bet that was a find.
Since no one's seen a dragon here 
since 1829.

Dragons don't exist my dear,
they're dreams and make believe.
I love they way you think of things 
and tales you can conceive.

I promise you if you can find
a dragon pet these days
I'll let you bring your dragon home 
and even let it stay."

I gave squeal and rushed about 
grabbing up some snacks.
I had great news she'll want to hear 
so I had to hurry back.

"My mom said I can keep you!
I'll call you Sally May.
We can be the best of friends, 
She said that you can stay."

"Hide and seek will be our game, 
Tea parties we'll have too.
We'll take walks, and swim a lot 
and visits to the zoo."

"Dress up and play doctor, 
play dollies and Bake cakes.
I'll even teach you how to fly 
and how to roller skate."

"I know that you are hungry. 
But try not to eat too much.
You were busy being born 
when it was time for lunch."

Just then my mom walked through the door
To tell me it was time.
Dinners done and dad was home 
and he brought key lime pie.

"Well hello Mom, come on inside 
and meet miss Sally May!
The dragon that if I could find 
you said that it could stay!"

The Hounds

(Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe)


(Have you ever tried to fathom, 
where a writer finds the mayhem
for the tantalizing tales 
he so wondrously creates?
Or the sacred surreal meanings, 
where the poet's mind was dreaming,
laying words upon the parchment 
for the minds he seeks to sate.)

Such a complicated process, 
my mind seems so filled with madness,
as I sit and delve within myself 
for tales of woe or fate.

“But always those wretched Hounds! “
 
“Will they ever stop their barking?
Always yipping, always yapping.
It will drive my mind to cracking;
must I suffer this awful sound? ”

Perhaps a tale of something strange, 
seeming just a bit deranged,
and so complex in meaning
that no answer can be found?
Maybe a tale of wild romance, 
of lovers found through but a glance,
with fates entwined in mystic bliss 
where true love must abound?

“But those infernal Hounds! “
“Always barking, barking, barking,
dreadful yipping, always yapping.
All my thoughts are now collapsing
how I wish they weren't around! “

“Through the night and through the day
must they always howl that way?
One night of peace, that's all I pray,
just one without that sound! “

The task at hand is daunting, 
when one finds the muse a calling,
and the tale itself seems fleeting 
as distractions now hold sway.
Yet diligently the writer sits, 
The tale’s created bit by bit,
and when it's done then all can read
the words he wished to say.

“But still those cursed Hounds! “

“The hellish beasts continue barking
so the tale my mind was starting
has now proved to be so fleeting
to be shattered by that sound! “

“Always yipping, yipping, yipping
and the yapping--always yapping.
Don't they ever think of napping
so my story could be found? “

(Have you ever tried to fathom 
where a writer finds the mayhem 
for the tantalizing tales 
he so wondrously creates?

Or the sacred surreal meanings, 
where the poet's mind was dreaming,
laying words upon the parchment 
for the minds he seeks to sate.)

“ With dreadful dogs a barking, 
all the yipping and the yapping,
and my mind at point of cracking, 
It's a thing I can't relate.”