ash & embers

so easy to catch a thing on fire
the label reads highly flammable
but no one really reads these anymore

and once the golden licks of heat take hold
it's not so easy putting them out
as it was to get them dancing full

but no one really thinks about how the fire burns
eating along the face of what it catches hold
in seconds what was firm and bright
is blackened, melted, shedding, morphed

ash & embers
all that is remembered gone

the house that used to live here
now a pile of grey-black sticks
and melted metal bones

even when it looks like it's put out
and wet from water being pumped
in bucket loads
don't touch
where little strands of smoke arise
what's left is still too hot
to move
to hold

ash & embers
all that is remembered gone

so when the match is struck
and you are ready for the burst
of light
remember how what's beautiful
can quickly burn out of control

ash & embers
all that is remembered gone

i wanted to keep warm
but the fire went too far