Among the Broken Ones

11. Fire Hazards

As punishment
of being silly
you burned my paper toys.
I didn't cry.

Early on you announced
boys aren't allowed to weep---
my disgrace.

Some days I would swear
I'm going to be a fireman
putting out fires
for dreams are fire hazards
and you said never
to play with fire,
but as an afterthought
you built fire exits
for me to escape---
my solace.

It was your way of teaching
that life
is a series of combustions.
When there is too much friction
even stones flicker
you just said
all I could do
was control the flames,
for we dont resurrect from the ashes;
when we catch fire
we are burning bright
but without fuel,
without dreams,
we are diminished
into ashes
and ghostly smoke---

our own destruction.