A Fire There Was

A fire there was
And is, I suppose
Still

Yet distance, the distance
Between, in darkness
The forest flight
Leads me away
From further light
And farther flights
I cannot fight
Anymore

For the fire's warmth
Was never mine

Though playful sparks
In the trusting dark
Did fly up alighting upon the trees
And light a place, my weary heart
To hope to help
And feed the flame
And burn away my older name

A convict's how
A wolven howl
The moon still hidden
Behind creeping clouds

My head hangs down
Cold off and alone
Far from the fire
I once had known

And loved so

And now wish

Who knows what

Perhaps the ashes I kept
In a pocket, secret, secure
Will keep me warm

Till someday
Perhaps I'll return

To the fire that was
And is, I suppose
Still

Though driven away
To the dark I may be
Cold off and alone
Far from the fire
I once had known

And loved so

Its warmth another home

Had I would feed it still

Though I wish

Not to kill its kindling
With overt indulgence

But in the cold and snow

How now I do miss it so...