Sea of Flame

The sea of flame
so beautiful, hypnotizing
wonderous to behold
that sways and flickers
barely out of reach
and all you have to do
is take that last step
into the shallow dip
that soft glow of light
cast by the dance of a hundred candles

The solid stance is broken
and in that moment, frozen in time
when the currents find your feet
and recognize you are so deliciously
flammable
that gasp of final coherent thought
sharp panic and electric adrenaline
"Oh, no. What have I done?"

Time hits the moment running
like a comet to reality
as the fire pulls you under
to be consumed by the tides of ash
and flame that does not burn the flesh
but burns the love, fear, and reason
charrs the heart and scalds the soul
boils the mind and eats the will
feeding off every whim and desire
to love and hold those dear
to hate and hurt those spited
to know and learn those true
to simple be, to simply do

You would scream
if only you could find the air
instead the flames fill you
with each gasp and shreik
the fire burns brighter, stronger
it burns and consumes all there is
of your self
until all is left is the dull carapace
the human flesh
skin that has no soul to burn
outward appearance, facade and all
lays unscathed and unbroiled
sunk to the depths of the currents
the useless container of so much
love, fear, and wisdom
is nothing more
than dust