i am fire
i am angel
the holy words of golden hymns
scorch my chapped lips
as i brand my pale skin with the word
salvation
over and over and over
until my tears blaze singed trails
down both my cheeks

i am dark
i am story
my wings are inked words
and bleached-white parchment
oh so flammable and
oh so transcendent
curled around my shoulders
and twining tattoos
down my back

i am silence
i am song
ending and beginning and ending again
with not a bang but a
hushed whisper
i heard muted songs weaving tapestries
of mute lyrics and unsung melodies but
my place above is
vacant

h.f.m.