Take, if you must,
my warmth, my light,
burn me slow,
or burn me bright.

Let your hunger
have its way,
but leave a flicker—
let me stay.

Is that fair to me?
To glow, to burn, to break—
while you warm your hands
at the embers of my ache?

Take my fire,
let it dance for you,
but know—this flame
was never yours to use.

Burn me,
to your heart’s content,
but do not name the ashes
your own lament.

Let me smolder,
but leave me whole—
don’t strip me down
to my shroud’s cold fold.
#thought