Pleasures that once delighted me fade
Curling in innocent ashes
A new burning draws me to it

Darkness won’t let me go
Reaches to my past, searching
For remnants of myself

Retreat from them
Hugging the new fire, scorching pain
Let me go

Around my fire others share their light
Happy, bathing in new flames together
Relishing the heat

Deep down I long for the shadows
Reminiscing the past, I forget the future
Hold on to the present

Don’t slip away

Only a flicker remains
But I clutch to it
Don’t drive me away