CLINGING FIRE

the fire that clings but does not destroy

painfully glowing into existence as the match is struck

cool liquid Terminator 2 flames

dancing across the surface of the sparkling black water

that spills forth from a perfect Ming vase

icy white-hot patterns of fire stolen from the sun

are TRAPPED

in an invisible jail cell by my finite logic

flames begging for community service

as they illuminate a series of jean-paul sartre no exit signs

in the room of discarded thoughts

defined by my never-ending perplexity

at this fire that clings but does not destroy