The Bonfire

Charred to the marrow

By K.B. Silver Published 11 months ago • 1 min read

Circling the edge of the radiant heat

Bones crack, spewing repugnant steam

Faces, names, sensations; I offer all up now

Empty out my heart of fear, stack up kindling, log, and bough

With each turn, I summon another moment in time

Toss it on, sizzling like water doused lime

I watch each replaying horror consumed in the bonfire

Ash clouds bloom, against the night, climbing ever higher

My guttural cry rising to an ululating chant

Creeping hands piloting knees in a marionette dance

I yank in time, skipping, and twirling to the beat

Dust flinging and clouding, round my frantic feet

I dare not swerve from my circuitous path

Never making progress, but not glancing back

The arcane ritual exercises every ghost and deviltry

Liberating me body and soul, to wander the earth free

Swaying, ecstatic, coals throw a warm glow across my beaded brow

With the last wisp of smoke, I collapse, spent, on the ground

I dip a finger in the ash, swipe streaks down my face and neck

A stark reminder of the life I left

K.B. Silver

K.B. Silver has poems published in magazine Wishbone Words, and lit journals: Sheepshead Review, New Note Poetry, Twisted Vine, Avant Appa[achia, Plants and Poetry, recordings in Stanza Cannon, and pieces in Wingless Dreamer anthologies.

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