Beneath the Pyre

As I walked through the woods where a young boy once grew,

every bug flew away, and the cuckoo, too.

Around me the trees crackled and creaked,

as the life of the woods away slowly leaked.

The wall of flames all but swallowed it whole,

as it left the world as naught but charcoal.

Forever it burned atop the pyre.

And when I saw my love, my dear, my darling,

I watched in horror as her smile turned to snarling.

For as she spun in her dress unfurling,

around her, too, the flames were whirling.

As the red of her hair became the flame eternal,

my heart was taken by the fire infernal.

Forever it burned atop the pyre.

When the flame has taken all that I know,

no land nor love nor heart to show,

I will give my body unto the flame,

for no one else can bear the blame.

By the fire for my sins I’ll finally atone,

And in our ashes, at least, you won’t be alone.

Forever we’ll rest beneath the pyre.