I Give You the Naked Flame

IMOGENE’S NOTEBOOK

I Give You the Naked Flame

Here is the embankment
where the fire will begin.
You gave good chase until here
but I caught up.
I started slow but I caught up.

As I gather the fire let me tell you
a final tale, I know you loved them,
I watched you watch my mouth
as I spoke.

I doubt you listened, but you will.
This one time, you will.

It started with a paladin
and a late autumn, so they say.
Funny how the centuries pile on
and make us either doubt
or double down.
It didn’t end with the arrow through the eye
but carried on, blurry
and brave.

Here’s the chance to say your piece
before the mouth is bound.
You choose silence, again.

You’ll like the smoke, I think.
It blew from between your lips
like compliments
while violent eyes
doubted, and doubled down
on the ugly habit.

The second-hand habit
isn’t how it ended either.
It clouded up my other eye
so my only good one
looked to the heavens
and said their version of love
must have been mistaken.

This is the true thing, I boasted,
choking on my own words.

The searing ash fell on my knuckles
as I beat the sky into submission
and you watched,
another long drag,
another signal.

The flames are catching
snapping at your heels.
Catching up to you.

You used to sample fire,
held it between your teeth
like the god of rolled up paper,
afraid to get a real mouthful.
Do not be afraid.

In this dry hollow
on this lone embankment,
tonight, I give you
the naked flame.

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