M13. Burning times

acrylic on canvas, art featured in the artist’s book “Daybreak” with this poem:

I can admit that I'm not fireproof and I burned for you

in a lot of ways
that fire is still burning through
all I can breathe in is the ash
and to get out alive
I can't keep turning back
you cannot be the one who hurts me
and the one who heals me
and while your fire burns
maybe don't stand near me
because I get so enticed by your heat
that I forget when it's time to retreat
time isn't all I need
but when I ask for anything else I can't breathe did you ever burn too?
how does this feel for you?
do I mean something to you?
I can't choke out these words
I can't forget the chords

the chords to the songs
we were dancing all night long to could we dance to something new? are you taking in the view watching me burn for you
I fight for your spark
even as mine burns out
even as I'm consumed with doubt even as my body becomes embers all I want to do is remember
and it's not hard to do
after all
the fire is still burning through