At first, I'm afraid..

When I write a poem, at first, I feel so nervous--

like a lovesick, teenager experiencing her first kiss.

You feel a burning sensation in your stomach

as though a flame inside has been ignited, then,

when it becomes too overwhelming

and you could no longer hide it,

your thoughts begin to burn across the paper

like a raging fire burns along the mountainside.

If you ever caught a glimpse of such a sight,

you'd be, both, afraid and mesmerized.

Poetry is my raging fire.

With it, I conquer my fears

and control my desires.