Heroes That go crashing From page to page   Swords gleaming under dragonflame   Eyes glinting in gallant determination   Lips laughing brazenly   Faces set Hearts true   They battle back and forth In plain black ink On creamy paper   Holding my breath captive My heart beating in time to their own My fingers gripping the book As theirs grip gold or a sweetheart’s hand   My light shines A single point of glimmering illumination In the night   While outside— Just beyond the glow of the lamp— Real heroes trudge They plod through trials doggedly   Swords notched and unadorned But sharp   Eyes full of secrets Past pain Gritty resolve   Jaws clenched tight Faces set Hearts true   They battle back and forth In gasping breath and blood On muddy ground   No one knows they fight No one cheers them on No one watches with bated breath Knowing that good always prevails— Though oft through grief and turmoil   I glance out the window   Something moves in the shadows   Shuddering at some unnamed emotion I rise and pull the shade And go back to my book Where rugged, handsome, Paper heroes Fight for lovely, tragic, Paper maidens   While in the dark A triumphant cry breaks forth… But whose it is— Villain or champion—   No one can tell