BURNING HEART

I fed the tiniest pieces of myself to the flames

for it to nibble and feast on what was left of me all the same

My soul, tendered kindling

meant to ship brightly against the tethered night sky

fading fast by mornings illustrious starless light

Let the smoking ash take what I leave of the

amber crystalline embers glowing in the river

like ghosts of honey and sultry bitters

they deliver

He promised we, forever in name

until forever was never and burned out the flame

I couldn't taste what was once yours or mine our ours in between

but I lit your letters and bled them under waxing moon tames, all the same--

You loved me once, loved me beautifully

loved me true and full

just like clouds kiss the heavy moons face

the flickering flames touch me and the growing doubt becomes unruly

leaving me to pray to the silence unduly--

for I too was once burning in prayer

I was devout, steady at your altar

offering myself in their place

lighting myself to see what wasn't for me--

Tell the flames your name, tell them all

tell the flames who you are, who they can call

whisper your name until the candle ties itself into knots

and speaks his name too

until the tone tastes like ruinous ash on your tongue

and the smoke blows from his lung

and he is gone