He walked toward her

a fire-stick in his hand

and spoke softly.

'This is fire

my gift to you.

It is safety from wild animals;

heat for your food;

romance for your life;

Igniter of Passion;

The Secret Furnace

which fuels the Sun;

the Starry Blanket

which covers the night;

the Milky Way which burns

hot-blue.

The Heart's Flame

is Cobalt Fire too.

She touched his fire-stick

and felt the burn.

He grabbed her singed hand

and kissed it

saying:

"Fire tooburns

human things;

Passion too

sears souls."

'But how, ' she said,

'shall I know fire which heals

from Stinging Fire which

burns my soul? '

'How can I be sure my fire

is safe fire,

that all my passions

are healing flames

and not destructive ones? '

He said 'Fire is like touch;

go close enough to feel the warmth

but don't press too much

or the skin recoils.

Fire is like two kissing lips;

go close enough to feel the heat

but pressure too much

you chip the teeth.

Fire is like making love;

it can sweep you away

but be sure Fire's Orbit

brings you back

ensuring sure you don't get too close to the burning Sun.
 

When young be the bubble-bee sampling nectar,

not the moth obsessed with flames.

Use fires' heat

but regard more its light;

for Fire is both;

heat is good

light is knighted.

Fire correctly lit

is a balm of both

and allows Love and Lover's

to survive,