i love writing in a cabin
next to the warm fire
as the ashes blacken
and my hands tire
but there's always
warm soup
on cold days
as my eyes droop
and i know it's time
for me to sleep

I am slipping below.
My spirit floats in the river
Shattered.
I am walking slow.
over spread ashes
of my burned-down hope.
Away from the mayhem
from the senseless noise
I'll march
along my dying ego.
Towards the open edge
Towards the certain fall.
I'll follow
the last piece of my soul.
Powerless
I'll watch my dream
crash into
the waterfall.

get your hands off of my mouth
feel the smoke in my lungs while you burn down our house
ashes litter my hair, scratches litter my skin
drowning in this love drought
watching the new cycle begin
is love as destructive as a fire?
why is my heart as malleable as tin?
I thought it was ok before the light started to dim

I.
Old flame; a spark of love,
Conflagration—a great deal for a crush,
A touch, a rush; all too much,
Tear filled eyes, after ashes rise from the dust.

Throttle neck, coughing like an exhaust,
Love to be a ride from coast to coast,
But we only spoke love just to boast,
We often did more than the most.

II.
Smoke from the chimney box,
Your eyes burning red—a fiery fox,
A scent in the springs of kisses phlox,
Our charred hearts swallowed the crops.

The land is grey in a colour of soot,
Something pretty is afoot underfoot,
For après—tragedy has a beauty take root,
Something grows ahead futures; by it's caput.

III.
A rose from the ashes—reminds me wisely,
That we gain a superior from former chaos,
Braved to awaken eyes; searching love blindly.
You've found that love, that one!--the one
Making two, to be loved and love!--that's four
For you're in love now, after another love.

                                                   Tears of ashes no more...

flames raze the forest,
bringing it to its knees.
ashes line the ground,
fertilizing the charred soil.
the clouds mourn for the forest,
blessing the ground with its tears.
seeds of all sizes land,
and the sun wakes up to greet them.
a garden rises from the ashes.

As dawns drew long
As nights had come and gone
A heart lay, broken and unsure
Like an illness without cure
There came and went an ache
A pondering, to become ashes

From flames of passion
To flames of pain, at last turned
To ashes of grief

Learn from the fires of desire
Grow to be stronger,
Lift the weary head higher

Take the time,
It needn't rhyme,
Do what the heart
And mind know is best
Slow it down, and rest

- Jay M
November 26th, 2021