“The Fire”

Little flicks of memory,

Play upon the mind

Crackling in treachery

Two elementals now combined

A two year old, lost in play

Mom says “Don’t mess around!

On your chair you should stay”

But the child heard not a sound.

Camping was a special treat

Around the fire the family gathered

A child should remain in their seat,

So scars cannot be lathered

Smoke would rise up to the sky

An offering up to the Gods

On her back the child did lie

A choice of life at odds

“Help me mommy! Daddy please!

The fire is so high!”

Now embraced in roaring sleeves

Smelling flesh embraces sky.

Not listening to her love’s warning

Flames now pulled her in

Consequences for ignoring

Her true first taste for sin

Firemen were there that day

Camping at the nearest site

Angels bellowing did say

“Save her with all your might!”

Screaming resounded to the stars

Consuming bright orange danced

Flesh melting into scars

A child’s eyes entranced

Looking up from below the flames

She saw the arm of God reach out

“I promise no more silly games!

A promise without any doubt!”

“I will listen to my mom and dad!

Please God help me through

I know now I made them sad

Please show me what to do!”

Hands grabbed on, pulling a coat

From the hell she was in

Except for where it melted

The windbreaker, upon her skin

Up into the camper they flew

Soaking in wet towels

Sabotaging the demon’s coup

The roaring fire growls.

A child now baptized by the fire

A complexity to behold

Dichotomy in who to aspire

In a world so very cold

The fire had set upon her soul.

A path unready to roam

But mom and dad made her whole.

When they had brought her home.

Bandaging and kissing pain

They made it go away

But every time it would rain

The scars were on display

She grew up and fell in again

For she had not learned

How to ease, her own pain

Choices all self-scourged

Redness glowed upon her skin

Emanating from her soul

Conflagration from within

Demons to cajole

The scars still came with every burn

But these could not be seen

Lost not knowing where to turn

In ashes she did glean

In a spiritual battle deep

The cacodemon’s grip was great

Into her heart he did seep

Feeling he had sealed her fate.

She turned back time and found the place

When she was alright

Lifting her face back to Grace,

To now embrace the Light.