
The Last Flame Must Burn Free
UNCAGED...
not seethe with resentment - trapped
trembling with suppressed fire...
not be a roaring inferno fuming with rage
nor curled in the belly of a lion
gnawing at its own claws.
Let it rise, emancipated
rebirthed with a soft crackle.
Let it flicker
on the lips of the wind,
not fume, choking in the throat
of a beast denied sky.
Resentment is a cage
with golden hinges -
but freedom is ash
that dances on the wind.
The flame hears the voices of the displeased
the annoyed and the dissatisfied
it empathises, it understands.
The flame asks us to rise above it all
to lift ourselves upwards
to planes of self acceptance.
Life flows not always in the ways we wish
it follows its own uncharted course.
The flame encourages.
It asks that we soar...
despite it all
It leaps.
It lives.
So let it burn -
uncaged, unfettered,
a quiet blaze
that forgives the lion
and forgets the bars.
Let Flame Slip Past the Lion’s Grasp
For she was meant to rejoice in freedom -
not muscle, not claw,
but in flicker and fire,
a flame unbound.
The lion reached out
resentment curled in every tooth,
but flame shimmied sideways,
a whisper of light
too soft to cage.
No cry,
no clash,
just the silence of letting go.
The Flame is you, it is me
We slipped past the bars,
past the grasp,
past the need to be seen.
And in the quiet that followed,
we dissolved...
into ash,
into peace.
The last flame,
no longer burning to prove,
just burning to be.
You - the lion

once angry and bitter -
watching the flame vanish,
no longer with fury,
but with reverent awe!
You are now
A calm river flowing with peace and a quiet grace.
About the Creator
Novel Allen
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. (Maya Angelou). Genuine accomplishment is not about financial gain, but about dedicating oneself to activities that bring joy and fulfillment.



Comments (8)
The flame imagery is so vivid! It feels like I could see it dancing and slipping past the lion’s grasp.
Whoaaaa, this was so deep and powerful! Loved your poem!
Thank you Novel! Forgiveness is an area that I need to experience growth in! Thx 4 sharing! I needed to hear this TODAY! This is blue ribbon brilliance, my friend! Get it gurl! 🫶🏾 💕💪🏾
nice imagery and yes, we all have a fire inside us burning clear and bright
This is beautifully inspiring, Novel. I love the imagery and the ultimate optimism of this piece.
oooo! love the leonine stance of this flame...flame making peace, what a concept.
This poem is indeed beautifully inspirational, Novel.
Love the image and the stiletto-like form of your poem. At the moment, I am full of resentment for the way Vocal are treating me, but we shall see how things pan out