Poet | Mystic | Existential Voice | Human with a haunted halo

Tristan Robert Lange is a poet whose work blends existential depth, gothic imagery, and spiritual subtext. This site is home to their published poems, reflections, and creative journey.

The Desert Door

Mar 15, 2026

· Poem

A suburban American Dream scene with a large wooden gate standing in the center of a manicured yard beside a house with a pool and an American flag. Through the open gate a harsh desert landscape appears, with a crude hermitage made from rough natural materials in the distance. — Image: AI-generated using DALL-E and modified by the author; Poetry: written by Tristan Robert Lange, Human-authored.

A life lived in search for the sacred,
Never to be caught up in empire’s essence,
The wilderness reveals true identity.
Hermitage in the arid house of humility—
Outsiders are not operant ouroboros—
Naysayers are to be expected to mock;
Yes!—belonging begets arrogant belittling.

Offering oneself in service extends out
From the lived lessons learned in listening.

Everyone has demons that dominate them.
Grapple with them—God will guide you—
Yesterday’s allegiances fade fast like fury.
Perhaps this is the day to retreat and reckon.
The desert door—the threshold to transformation.

POET’S NOTE:
An acrostic Scorched Sunday poem. Part of my Scorched Strays series. This poem reflects on empire, wilderness, and the moment one steps beyond belonging toward transformation.

Tittu

Author

Written by

Tristan Robert Lange

The Desert Door