Reach

looking back over the sea of days

I have lived as a wanton child

reaching into the fire to seize incandescent dreams

days of bright sun, ambiguous twilight

immodest sunsets flaming down into night

kisses that leave faint wheals or scorch marks

the embers of love flaring

like hopeful fragments

of the birth of stars

Not reaching into the fire is the real death

so, I am whispering to you

learn to shut your eyes and abandon your fear

and walk unchained between the trees

and their softly swaying leaves

murmuring secrets into the shadow of my hair

when you are free within your own heart

I will teach your hand to travel through the fire

I am whispering to you

every morning after waking

I reach into the fire and pull out

red-hot divinity

awkward handfuls of poetry

and long ropes of freedom

that can stretch to the ends of the earth

without breaking