An Ode to the Closing of a Book

A blank page stares
back at you
whence will you go?
maybe
now that this chapter has closed
a new one
will open

All was well, they said.
With your blessing I will go,
to paths, at last,
that lead home.
I'll see you when the world's
no longer a shadow.
down the rabbit-hole,
over the misty mountains
through the looking glass
or the wardrobe-
when September first
comes again

Raise your wands
for the fallen-
Tonks, Fred, Remus
For if this is to end in fire
let us all burn together
farewell to thee, Dumbledore
Hedwig snow-feathered
may you fly among the stars
Thorin son of Tharin son of Thror,
King Under the Mountain at last
to the spare he killed
and to Dobby, a free elf
Padfoot finally reunited
with his Prongs and Lilyflower
And to Tauriel, who lives
She walks in starlight
and keeps it as a promise
farewell
to those who died bravely
and those that did not

to Saruman of Many Colors,
I liked white better
to the last Marauder, Wormtail
to Susan, who was once
a friend of Narnia
to Luke, who no longer
fights beneath the flag of Camp Half Blood
to Tom Riddle, rest now,
in pieces
to Kronos, don't come again
to Sauron, in the land where the shadows lie
and his master, Morgoth

Mischief managed,
the book is shut
the road is now calling
and I must away

Back to the Shire I go,
when September first comes again
or Meggie reads me back
over hill and under stream
I will come