Fire

Fire

by Emma Bradley

Strong and deadly,

The fire cackles

At the weakness of men,

Licking at their feet

With power unmatched

And devouring all

Which dares to stand in its path,

Its power fueled

By the air around it

As it reaches for the sky

As if grasping

At the life above it.

It battles water,

As it is the only thing

That can destroy the destroyer.

The wind powers it in its raging battle

While the smoke from its kills

Suffocates life

And the flowers around wither and die.

The trees turn to ashes

And the animals flee

As it steals the oxygen

Which brings life.

It drives them away

And kills all who stay.

After they die

And the fire dies too,

New life is born

And beauty rises again.

The animals return

To trim the plants

Which grow from the ashes

Of their elders.

Although it is destructive

When untamed,

When contained

It glows softly

As it warms the soul.