The Fire Poem by hema thasapalan

one of the hot elements of God's creation
its energy on-going
like all of creation
it has a captivating, hypnotic beauty
one can stare at it to infinity
the dancing flames
soothes the troubled mind
hypnotizes you to forget your confusion
calms your nerves to quietness
sitting in front of a sacrificial pyre
you offer symbolic items into the fire
clarified butter, lentils, camphor, wood, coconut,
each symbolising the physical, mental, spiritual self
the heat from the fire
keeps us warm, like the embrace of the Guru
scorches you when forget and get too close
just like a Guru that gives a stern lecture
to awaken you to reality