Burning Embers Poem by Thomas King

Burning embers,
Flicker like fireflies
Aimlessly buzzing the night skies

Beautiful hands of flame
Reach out to caress all that is within reach
Intimately embracing tree and shrub
With molten hot arms

Kissing flowers and licking grass
With its searing tongue and fiery lips
As it breathes its scorching breath
Of loneliness and desire
Into the noxious smoke filled air

Charred remains
Are left smoldering and lifeless
In the wake of a ravenous appetite
For passion and closeness
That it can never feel

But greedily engulfing and devouring
Everything in its desire to be held close
Until it has consumed everything
Including the life giving air needed to sustain it

Reducing it to a single starving flame
That is finally put out of its misery
By a merciful last breath
Of a dying wind