One million ways to burn

Fotografia de Sabina Tone

One million ways to burn

choose one

One million ways to burn

choose one

I look upon you

with eyes burnt from tears

sear the meat of my heart with

memories

of your hot/cold words

your dry ice words

sticking

stinging

singing

with vision blurred

I watch

our love go up in a frigid smoke

guess I got to close

I inhaled

I choked

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

Etched you name on my walls

with the fire in your touch

Our ardor once warmed like summer

soldered bodies

we swam

in simmering sweat

I

melting metal

softening

glowing fiery orange like the sun

bending

You

blacksmith

branding

At strangest times

I feel the heat of the iron

still

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

Like smoldering coals now

weaker

but able to burn

still

3rd degree

1st degree

This hurt turns angry

scalds

like freshly boiled tea water

spilled upon flesh

making skin bubble

then blister

later to heal

scarring

still

Etch my name on your wall with a caustic tongue

hope at strangest times you feel the heat

still

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

Shall we leave our love at the stake

within a fence of flames

sacrificed on an altar of discontent

sacrificed for no greater purpose

on an altar of self

for the purpose of self

Will the rains come

to douse or drown

Will we rebuild from the ember and ash

Or will nothing ever grow here

on this burnt earth

that was

us

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

slow burn, slow burn

Burn

from passion

or displeasure

Burn

slow burn

One million ways to burn

choose one

One million ways to burn

choose one

choose one

choose one

choose one

choose one

Ursula Rucker