Flames

Leighann Summers

People always told me

“If you play with fire you’re going to get burned.”

But I guess maybe that’s something I never truly learned  

I didn’t obey  

You see

How can something so beautiful

So playful, So mesmerizing

Possibly intend to hurt me?  

When I got older people always warned me of another kind of flame

They said “If you stay with him, all you’ll receive is pain.”

But I suppose that’s not something I ever really heard  

I didn’t listen  

You see How can someone so wonderful

So graceful, So tantalizing

Possibly intend to wound me?  

Looking back now perhaps I would scold me for reaching out to the flickering sparks

They said

“If you come away with us, you may be led astray”

But perhaps that’s not something my heart duly preferred  

I did it anyways  

You see

How can something so innocent

So stupefying, So pure

Possibly intend to misuse me?  

People always told me

“If you play with fire you’re going to get burned.”

But I guess maybe that’s something I never truly learned  

I should have obeyed  

You see

Turns out something so mesmerizing

So tantalizing, So stupefying

Is always looking for some way to seduce me.