Another love poem - though this one is a bit edgier. Read and enjoy.
SEQUOIA
A controlled burn—also known as back
burning—clears everything in its path.
When wisely calculated, it can renew all
through the brilliant ferocity of fire.
Trees dancing flaming insanity light up
the night sky.
Everything old on the forest floor
becomes fuel
for the carefree wanderlust of red and
orange.
The night sky screams as billows of smoke
set sail,
gray-black waves exhaling into the moon’s
starlight ocean,
clouds jostling to hold their own against
the hot-faced intruder.
*
Though I did not calculate well the
burning that brought you to me
I did sniff the winds of change and
following a wild impulse,
drew a ragged breath, lit a match, and
threw it down.
Another match I threw, not caring what
took fire.
Ragged breath turned to scorched sound,
white heat laying waste the shell of all
patient waiting, proper praying, false
illuminating.
No pretty contemplation this,
only pure agony shrieking light.
Gasping on hands and knees, I choke and
let go,
vomiting strangled metaphors of
freedom and beauty
and what it means to be at peace in this
world.
Gutturally chanting, my voice erupts
volcanic, demanding
that what was torn from me like stitches
from a still raw wound be returned.
How it comes I care not.
But I swear by all that is wretched and
holy that I will light the sky up
this time with my flesh and bone if the
earth of my life does not
quake awake to pure flowering green
NOW.
Tongue burning, eyebrows singed, naked
skin blistering,
I listen as the wind blows still.
What pain, age, and this wild night have
not burned from me crackles and is gone.
Lying naked and alone, I sleep
and dream of you.
*
A controlled burn—also known as back
burning—clears everything in its path.
When wisely calculated it can renew all
through the brilliant ferocity of fire.
It is said that some seeds, like the seed
of the great Sequoia,
remain dormant until broken down by fire.
This to tell you that such burning is
purposeful.
This to tell you that grace exists.
Published in 'The Furious Gazelle' 06/14/2014
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