THE SORCERER CONTEMPLATES HIS BEGINNINGS

			To think that once I was a child such as these,
			a tumble of rags in a village street,
			or a trembling boy barely into his teens,
			his heart thumping as he runs to meet
			some sweetheart in the evening air.
			The boy did not fear the darkness then,
			nor ponder the mysteries of the Worm,
			nor speak with thunder among the hills.
			When did the fire begin to burn?

			When he listened to whispers in the night,
			and learned that death is but a door;
			when demons raised him to some height,
			promising kingdoms, gold, and more;
			when first he walked a shadowed path,
			quite unknown to most mankind,
			seduced by sigils of the heart,
			and inscrutable hieroglyphs of mind.

			Then the fire began to burn,
			and sorcery sparked to life within.

			- Darrell Schweitzer

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Darrell Schweitzer edits
Weird Tales

Weird Tales is the classic magazine
with the best set of
writer's guidelines
anywhere.
Period.
Do check them out!
-- D.B.

All rights to this poem belong to its author.

"The Sorcerer Contemplates His Beginnings"
appears as part of
Darrell Schweitzer's novel

THE MASK OF THE SORCERER

(New English Library, 1995).

This is presently out of stock from the publisher,
but is available by contacting:

Darrell Schweitzer
6644 Rutland St.,
Phildelphia PA 19149-2128.

Send SASE for list of
availble Schweitzer titles.

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