Flame

You grew up leaning to make your own light

In a world where you saw none

Each flame you had only for a moment

Before they came and snuffed it out

But your anger and fear only fueled that little flame

That spark that danced and sang

“I am who I am

Whoever that may be”

That flame you began to hide away

In the darkness under your floorboards

Your fingers are cracked and bloody

From prying them up

Whenever you had to feel its forbidden

warmth

And when your bones are near breaking

You give up on digging it out

Late

When the darkness belongs to the night alone

And it’s the only darkness you ever trust

You remember the lessons

Your kindergarten teacher prided you on

Kindness

Love

And honesty

You wonder

Did everyone miss that lesson

Or did they just throw it away in the same bin

They threw you

And you don’t feel honest

You feel like you are harboring a fugitive

Under your floors

Sheltering a criminal

Beneath your skin

Someone wrong

Not right

And when it aches like that

You miss your little flame under the floorboards

Where you let it suffocate

And wither

And finally go out