Flame

I could stare at flickering flames all night

when I should be wandering in my dreams

I could gaze at a candle as it dances bright

but the minutes fly and so must I, it seems

Flames have a strange power to captivate

despite their cruel destructive capabilities 

The heat and light they furiously radiate

holds the promise to harm, or put at ease

Flames, consuming all, voraciously to eat 

everything that falls within their hungry path 

Fire that immolates with unforgiving heat 

and razes all to ashes with its fiery wrath

Flames that warm and thaw the harshest cold 

or offer radiant energy to cleanse the soul 

Eternal flame saluting all the brave and bold 

I could forever gaze upon your healing glow

Steve Wheeler © 6 September, 2021

Image source: Marco Verch

Blinded by the light

Silence of the night 

Solitude and cocoa mugs 

Congeal together 

Motionless in dark 

Not a sliver of light here 

In this pool of black

My eyes are open 

Or perhaps my eyes are closed 

Too dark to decide

My clock marks the hours 

Sentinel of a time slide 

As it slips away

Sleep eludes me now 

A whisper of a garment 

Keeps me wide awake

Morning will soon come

Dawn will caress my window 

With her pale fingers

Insomnia reigns 

My mind busy with its thoughts

Resisting all rest 

I fall silently 

into the vivid dreams of 

Rapid eye movement

Sudden hypnic jerk 

Dream of falling from great heights 

Wide awake again

My bedside lamp stand 

Switched on inadvertently 

Blinded by the light 

Steve Wheeler © 10 March, 2021

image source