Greek Fire

Right before it starts

I am a shell

- waiting -

it starts small, like a glimmer of a flame in a dark cave

then

it washes over my corpse,

a sea of foam bubbling up over coarse sand.

 

It begins.

 

The flame becomes irrevocable.

Crashing waves no longer bare similarity -

I have evaporated in the heat

 

In the blaze I come to life

- suddenly all is clear -

problems,

solutions,

life,

I know what to do.

 

Before I know it I'm running -

my legs are sore but I don't feel anything.

I run for miles.

The cash in my wallet is spent …

and I can't even remember what I bought,

but I don't care,

because I have found solace in fire.

 

I scream,

I scream because you can't see what I see.

Isn't it clear?

Can’t you see the light from the flame I bare?

 

I burn hot,

hotter and hotter,

till my brain turns to ash.

It stops.

I am once again a shell.

 

I cool fast -

suddenly I am freezing.

Stiff, cold,

a corpse again.

 

I sleep for days

waiting for the flame.