death of a prince

a carefree soul is tossed into the bouldery flame

thinking that the heat will make it a diamond

what it finds is that the heat is hot, and burns

and though pain sometimes brings joy,

hell is hot.

;

struggling to survive the endless onslaught

it fashions itself into a fiery coal

warning others not to touch

and to leave it to suffer on its own

;

it burns, waiting for man or God to save it

but finds that its only salvation lies within itself

angry, it burns against the Universe

and so turns its back on those who try to help

;

alone it continues

not seeing the water it so desperately craves

and, accepting its fate,

it burns towards its center

folding in, and disappearing into ash.

;

03-16-20