Burning Bones

My mouth is full of ashes
as all the words that I left unsaid
burned up in a great blaze
smoke pouring from my nose
my eyes forced open
my throat a burning branch,
my teeth clenched.

For this is a world full of monsters,
and of men.
And I, like so many others,
were forced to steal the skins of others
and fill our mouths with ashes
and burn up in a great blaze.

I am not a monster.
I am a man.
And your presence near my skin has ignited my bones.
How could teeth stay clenched,
fists stay balled,
minds stay closed,
in the wake of burning bones?

My mouth is full of fire.
Your ears are full of fire.
It is finished in fire.
As the burnished sun finally decides to kiss the earth
and we writhe in the passing of the day.
Rooms clear, and loved ones leave,
and none of us can be bothered to take any time at all
to grieve.

Though the truth will guide my way,
Though this fickle fire will light up the day,
I will stand fast.
Skin to skin,
eyes wide open
by your side as our bones ignite.