
Cherish the young flame, it burns so bright
upon the stage of life's beginning
it is but a child of accident, a breath of chance.
its light dances on the melody of silence,
its warmth cradles its inner unborn gods and goddesses...
it carries the lantern of beginnings,
the pulse that teaches its shadow to move,
the spark that sketches beauty
on the walls of the void.
🌿 the antecedents gather around it,
their voices communing in prayer,
their hands cupped like waterfalls,
offering the flame a name, a song, a path.
🔥 yet every flame is a paradox—
to burn too bright is to be extinguished,
to shine too dim is to surrender,
to live passionately is to lean toward ash.
so cherish it,
for even the brightest child of chaos
must one day curl into darkness,
a last ember sighing into silence,
the final flame whispering...
remember me.
But, until then...
Just dance within the flame.

About the Creator
Antoni De'Leon
Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content. (Helen Keller).
Tiffany, Dhar, JBaz, Rommie, Grz, Paul, Mike, Sid, NA, Michelle L, Caitlin, Sarah P. List unfinished.



Comments (11)
The pacing mirrors the lifecycle you describe, opening expansively and narrowing toward a quiet, inevitable hush. The line breaks create space for reflection, allowing the poem to breathe rather than rush toward its conclusion.
Just given you a shout out on Raise Your Voice here https://shopping-feedback.today/resources/raise-your-voice-thread-12-18-2025%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Gorgeously-penned & beautifully-inspiring! Go AD! 💪🏾💕🫶🏾
let the flame burn and never let it go
Beautifully written! May we never lose our inner youthful flame!
What great advice this poem gives to one. Good job, Antoni.
I think we waste a lot of the youthful flames not realizing just how fast the flame dims, yep, we need to cherish it while it burns bright. Still haven't found the fountain of youth. Wonder if AI can find it. 😁
I hope this wins 🏆 Top Story 🥰
I see another Top Story, beautiful words and images
''the spark that sketches beauty on the walls of the void.'' Also ''yet every flame is a paradox— to burn too bright is to be extinguished, to shine too dim is to surrender,'' Your world is wonderful, a mix of raw emotion and thoughtful brushstrokes. A very beautiful world.
I love your ending ‘Just dance within the flame.’ It makes me want to go out and live life!