I struck a match and watched
the flames smother your
scarlet smoked poetry scattered
on the darkened ground.  I told
myself that I was finished this
time around and I'd never go
back into your raging blazed
affection.  I remember the
pain I carried inside my soul,
the lonely days and nights I
sat on the couch smoking
a pack of cigarettes over
blackened beats, flicking
embers in the stained grey
ashtray, inhaling the
shattered shadows
surrounding my crumpled
body.  The swollen chemistry
was cracking my cheeks,
heartbroken diction over
diminishing metaphors, as I
gazed out the window at the
unmoving trees and distant
leaves, the sky falling apart
beyond my smashed frame.
At one time I did love you
more than anything in the
world, but I see now that
we can no longer be.
And as I stood in the
backyard of my home,
the sizzling flames burning
with no remorse, crackling
and popping, exploding and
disturbed, there was a calm
feeling settling inside of me,
a vivid light opening my eyes
for the very first time.