A response to A Challenge Poem at FOS

The Challenge: To use these phrases in an epic poem;

* "... archangels in velvet armor..."
* "... marching through the shadows of Time..."
* "... the Judas Kiss of Eternity..."
* "... sneering at tombstones..."

I Don't think this qualifies as an Epic Poem, but it is a poem...

Fire Dancer


He came,
Like they all do,
With promises and lies on his lips,
But she was wary,
And did not take the bait-

He wanted to walk her home,
Thinking to earn his way into her heart,
By showing his courage,
He chose the path through the church yard,
Where long ago they buried their dead…

But she was unafraid of death,
And sneered at the tombstones,
When they walked through the graveyard…

He thought she would be frightened,
And took her hand in his,
But death was her old friend,
And they knew each other well-

In her eyes,
He saw fire,
And misread it for desire,
He did not see the scars,
She bore.

The night hid them,
The night hid her,
From his prying eyes,
And rude questions that she ignored…

He is young she thought.
He does not understand,
And the voice within her nodded sagely,
And whispered;

I wonder what he would think,
If he knew I danced with fire,
Its bright yellow eyes,
Following my every move,
Flames licking their lips,
Trying to taste flesh,
That never stands still…

What is it about the nature of fire
That calls to me,
Burns in me,
Springs unseen around me,
Until the heat warms my cold hands,
And I reach out to it,
Trying to understand,
The nature of the beast,
That calls my name so clearly…

Perhaps I am doomed to be saved,
In its raging flames,
The heat of its glowing eye,
Piercing through the façade,
Its yellow glow igniting within me,
Blazing through the paper walls,
Eating them like a greedy child,
Eager for sweet meat…

I sing to it,
Touch it,
Run my fingers through the curtain of flames,
That surrounds me,
Dancing to its music…

Have you heard the sound of fire burning?
Ah what a strange and haunting song it sings!
Powerful and alluring it calls to all,
Even the deaf hear its sound,
And watch the flames dancing with hypnotic glee!

The flame sits on my open palm,
And I whisper to it softly,

“Burn me then,
Flay me alive,
Set me on a river of pain,
Erase the memories that torment me,
Turn them to ashes that blow in the breeze,
Send me marching through the shadows of Time!




I wonder what he would say,
The one who wishes he could see me,
If he saw my scars,
Would they frighten him more,
Than my fire dancing ever could?

Would he dare to ask?
Would I dare to answer?
Could he trace the symbols,
Carved in once smooth flesh,
And not shiver,
Nor turn away?

Would he be afraid of the answers given?
Of the pain drawn in ruddy colors,
Of the rainbow carved on my wrists,
Or the moon on my chest?

Would he trace its rude edges in the night,
With closed eyes,
Letting his fingers guide him from one to the next?

Could he be my archangel in velvet armor?
My brave Knight,
My lover,
My soul mate…?

More importantly;

Could he save me?

Or when this evening ends,
With me finally revealing my secrets,
Would he give me my first true kiss of love,
Or the Judas Kiss of all Eternity…?

Promising to call,
Going as far as writing the number down,
Like a teenage boy on his arm,
Knowing full well he will shower,
As soon as he gets home,
And watch the memory of me,
Flow down the stainless steel drain…

Out of the darkness he calls to me,
His soft voice flowing over me,
Like the gentle spray from a waterfall,
Singing my name in that dark warm voice of his,

“Are you there?” He whispers,

I wonder how to answer-

From somewhere deep within,
The flames come again,
Alive and whispering,
He does not hear them.

But the dead do.

And they rise from their graves,
Called by the flames now burning all around me,
Flowing through me,
Trying to feel the heat of the life I possess…

I fight for control,
Dampen down the surging emotion,
Blazing in my heart,


He sings my name again,
And I turn to him,
Wondering what I shall do…

He says with awe,
“There is a fire in your eyes tonight,”

And the flames begin anew…