Fire: Live to Burn, Burn to Live
Solidity and fixity of earth,
Low and high, core and mountain;
Water, graceful, soulful,
Whether sea or fountain;
Air, empty, ubiquitously swift;
Ether, primordial – the mystic gift;
But to live – really LIVE – fire is the need,
The elemental nature of living’s own greed;
To scorch the earth, drive waters to steam,
Exploit the air with smoldering dream;
To blind with light, to sear with heat,
Deliberately ravaging with creative feat;
To jut, spread, dance wildly without inhibition,
To consume nature as part of nature without guilt or contrition . . .
Yes, that is to live,
One’s self as kabob,
Skewered by the will,
Beacon to the mob.
Nothing else matters but to burn – to blaze – without fear;
To stoke fire in the eyes, zeal in the mirror;
Even more, defy heaps of dirt,
The cold breath of pessimists,
Their drowning opinions . . .
Never dwindle, never tire;
Never be the Phoenix when you can choose to be the fire.
– Mary Jo Magar –