Branching or choice poem

Branching or choice poem: The reader determines the path by selecting words at each fork.

Two Roads from the Station

You step from the last train
with one name in your pocket.

Choose:

To search for the speaker, go to A.
To throw the name away, go to B.

A

The town is dark except for one house.
A lamp burns behind its upstairs glass.

Choose:

Knock at the door: continue to C.
Watch from the road: continue to D.

B

The paper turns once in the wind
and vanishes beneath the train.

Continue to E.

C

The door opens before you touch it.

“You came back,” someone says.

The name in your pocket
is your own.

D

At dawn, the lamp goes out.

No one leaves the house,
but your shadow walks toward it.

E

You leave the station empty-handed.

Years later, every train whistle
sounds like someone calling you home.

The poem divides into separate narrative paths. The reader does not merely replace individual words; the reader chooses which section to enter and which ending to reach.

Its defining feature is divergent routes. Some passages are read, while others remain unread during a particular journey.

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About the Author: Sarah B. Royal

Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.

Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.

Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.

Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.

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