Father warned me not to play with fire
But I didn't listen
-
I couldn't resist
-
I struck the match
And watched it dance
Teasing me with its
Sultry glow
Inviting me closer
With its heat
And intensity
-
I yielded to temptation
-
Passing my fingers
Over the flame
Letting it kiss my skin
-
The heat painfully invigorating
Intoxicating
Addicting
Searing deep into my soul
-
And then
-
I pinched out the flame
Extinguishing its life
Watching the smoke tendrils
Curl forlornly
An echo of the power
Fire once claimed
-
I tossed the spent match aside
And walked away
But we both knew
I'd be back
-
In the dark of the lonely night
I'd call for the fire
-
I'd let it burn
Watch it dance
And feel it kiss my skin
To feel the intensity of the heat
Deep in my core
-
I would make-believe
I was in control
Bringing it to life
And snuffing it out
Night after night
-
But when you play with fire
You always get burned
-
Little by little
I lost control
Letting the fire loose
More and more
-
Finally, I surrendered
Completely
Enraptured
By the unmatched
Intensity
I no longer could
Resist
-
Embracing my fate
I let the flame
Consume me
Screaming in tortured ecstasy
-
Then fire took me
As its own
It was too late when
I remembered
Father warned me not to play with fire
About the Creator
A. J. Schoenfeld
I only write about the real world. But if you look close enough, you'll see there's magic hiding in plain sight everywhere.
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By LUCCIAN LAYTH3 days ago in Critique
Comments (5)
Beautifully written and immersive. The imagery really pulled me in and made the poem unforgettable.
💖That word in your subtitle was such a perfect choice of diction for this piece. I understood why you couldn't resist. Your personification nailed it all down for us; the word "sultry" gave me the feeling and notion that a fire is not just hot: it can be tempting, and equally a seductive and destructive lure. The back and forth in the beat of your juxtaposition was intoxicating in its own right. 💖From "painfully invigorating" to "kiss" to the "searing of the skin and soul."
This is a fantastic poem. ❤️🔥
I love this! That ending sealed it :-)
"Watching the smoke tendrils Curl forlornly" That's such a brilliant and beautiful way to describe it. Loved your poem!