i started the fire because
there was a pack of matches on
the table and i didn't want to
bite the silence anymore and
i couldn't laugh when i
didn't know what to say or
what to write or
how to lay my words out from my
tongue in a way that neither ignited
not fizzled; i started the fire because
burning things is easier than
creating them and smoke
settles heavier than a smile and
swallows up everything and never
spits it back out quite the same;
i started the fire because i was afraid
and now that it's manifesting itself
around my hips and licking wet
strips up neck i can't help but
be terrified.
