Flares

The fire burns a country away,

the final say of truth 

usually comes from tongues

outside the mouth,

bodies push every last chip

of the few left

to set themselves on fire,

it’s not giving up

but going all in

the tongues of fire on your body

talk about your attempts

to keep going

the best you can do

is to be swallowed,

hopefully spit back out again

I see smoke hanging

from sunlight’s shoulders

accentuating peaks and valleys

by folding the pages to reveal depth 

in the panoramic view,

tell me about your shame 

covered in ashes

and I will tell you

about the awe I see 

for miles.

somewhere is on fire

while somewhere else

has been made more beautiful

from its smoke