Hiding Behind Fire

A fire comes and goes ever so quickly Like friends you thought existed They stare at me for a moment and invite me in Draw me closer But soon they sizzle out of view, Becoming dark, smoldering ashes Black smoke rising Leaving me Friendless Stuck in a menacing cloud Alone Even with the warmth the fire seems to give The beautiful hues of Red Yellow Orange I hide from the fear and knowing of Being burned The crackle and pops of gossip down the halls Spreading pain Hurt I know if I get too close Become “friends” with the fire My skin will scald Tighten Burn And peel away But again and again I get too close Out of fear There might be something worse Than burns Than gossip down the hallways But I can’t let the fire control me I take a bucket of clear water Full of my sorrow My tears And dump it onto this Raging Hurtful pyre And as the white smoke begins to rise My sorrow leaves My tears lessen My screams stop And my burns begin to heal