A Little Piece of Home

NB: This was inspired firstly by the Monthly Poem Challenge and secondly by a sci-fi novel I'm working on; it's written from the point of view of the main character, Exxen Tanner. To summarise, Exxen went on a backpacking holiday during her gap year. She goes to what's known as a pleasure world (so called because there are no laws; you do what makes you happy) for 'the ultimate survival experience' as it says in the brochure. Once she gets there, she's stripped of her identity and the reality becomes clear; the world is pure anarchy, with predators and violence at every turn. The only real law that exists is the law of the jungle. Exxen is unable to get home since leaving is strictly forbidden; the people who manage such things want to keep the population of the world up, and taking prisoners is the only way to do it. This poem is set a few months after her arrival on the pleasure world; she finds a small stone from her own world – Nalgor – wedged in the corner of her backpack. I wondered what would be going through her mind when she first saw it, and this poem was the result. Just thought I'd mention that, clear up one or two things

As I sit here staring
at this pebble I have brought,
I think of all the things I've seen
the creatures that I've fought.

I had dreams once upon a time,
but they were torn away.
Now all I do is run and hide
and fight from day to day.

I never chose to bring this stone,
just found it in my pack
and it's all I have of Nalgor
since I never can go back.

They trapped me here to die,
but I'm nowhere near that yet.
And my name is Exxen Tanner
and I'll not let them forget.

So for now I'll just keep staring
at this pebble while I roam,
and dream about another world
where once I made my home.