Flame within

Scorching flame, burning so

Painfully beautiful.

Destructive in your power,

Into the darkest corners

Of myself, there will  you stay.

Forever lighting the pitch in

My soul.

What is there? An empty shell,

A meaningless void.  Yea’ here will

 you have a home. After all, you are

all I have ever known.

Shadows of memory shrouded

In secret shame, mistily show themselves.

I cry for my loss, I die a little

Each time they come.

I watch as they laugh at me,

 mock me.  Ridicule my weakness.

I watch, for I cannot look away.

They are with me everyday.

Then, diseased they fall apart.

Scattering like autumn leaves, I try to catch

Some. The one’s that didn’t laugh.

The few that made me smile and feel as though

Somehow, somehow, it was all-worthwhile.

Scorching fire, burning so beautiful.

I will be your jailor and only

time will offer you freedom from this place

within me.