She surrendered to the flames
They consumed her
Wrapping around her violently
hues of red and gold
The fire raged
Taking unrelenting possession
of everything but this-

For something unrequited
is beyond
free will and flesh

The sun kissed the leaves
Just before their release
They captured the air
Like a feather
Gracefully falling
In their end
There is still life
where branches barren
To be nature
More than human
Not burdened by change

Neither love nor hate
are born with us
it is born within us
their resilience
held in which we harbor
which we feed-
if not to nurture love
to starve the dark
starve love
all lost

The sun slipped through the chips of wood surrounding the window
Light painted the room
As it met her eyes she realized
This is more than a measure of passing time
She watched as the cascade of shadows
danced upon the walls
Resurrected from their rest
In a moment she found all that it was
Opportunity
Possibility

It was hope