Where It Burns Poem by Jace Flynn

I turn the handle to make sure the burn is just right
Maybe that's why I keep coming back each night
My pink-purple skin aches as the hurt blurs into cloud
Scorched my throat with bitter poison just to drown you out


The water gets hotter, my hatred grows stronger
For everything I let you do—
I let you do

Brought my finger to the lighter, tryna keep it together
But fire can't burn what's buried forever
No flame will torch what's ingrained beneath flesh
You've branded my mind, and it never forgets


My eyes hardly open as I slip in and out of dreams
Nails dig into skin, even though it never bleeds
Your lips curled up like none of it had mattered
Head rested on the pillow, my soul completely shattered


The water gets hotter, my hatred grows stronger
For everything I let you do—
I let you do



Touched my finger to the lighter, tryna keep it together
But fire can't burn what's buried forever
No flame will torch what's ingrained beneath flesh


I kept the fire close just to feel less cold
Let it kiss my skin like something I could hold
Didn't ask questions, didn't need words
The warmth never left, even when it hurt

won't stop standing in the flames
Just to prove that I still feel