Flame | Teen Ink

Flame MAG

December 1, 2008
By Anonymous

I watch this flame pass
from match to wick,
gently stepping over
a great divide.
This flame and I
are not so different:
it comes into being from nothingness;
it eats and grows, smokes, and rests.
It gets angry,
destroys homes,
consumes flesh.
Sated, it becomes calm,
retreats into coals,
smoldering through the night.
Domesticated
by a piece of string,
it makes its home in a cave of wax.
It chases the shadows away
and stands watch through the night.
It sways
and dances in the darkness
before it is extinguished
in the blink
of an eye.


The author's comments:
What inspired me to write this was: my life resembles a candle light. Bright at times, then it completely turns around and I feel dark, sad, and abandoned. I hope whoever reads this will feel what I felt, and not judge, but understand. Thank you.

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This article has 293 comments.


loseig GOLD said...
on Jun. 28 2012 at 2:19 pm
loseig GOLD, Naperville, Illinois
11 articles 1 photo 8 comments
Great work! I totally understand and this poem was written fantastically! 

dragon1572 said...
on Jun. 6 2012 at 10:44 pm
dragon1572, North Dighton, Massachusetts
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed"

Amazing poem, imagery and description was great and through this each reader can relate it to his/her own personal experience. Great work.

on Jun. 6 2012 at 9:59 pm
The-Silent-Call BRONZE, Cincinnati, Ohio
4 articles 1 photo 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
\"Trust yourself, you know more than you think\" -Spock

I love the reference to the controlled haven of the candle wick, to the burning down of homes. There is such a large definition of fire, but I believe you potrayed it quite well!

Two of Tow said...
on May. 24 2012 at 1:38 pm
Read Farenheit 451

Two of Tow said...
on May. 24 2012 at 1:38 pm
Read Farenheit 451

KelliB GOLD said...
on May. 15 2012 at 11:28 am
KelliB GOLD, Amarillo, Texas
15 articles 1 photo 55 comments

Favorite Quote:
Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.
- Bill Cosby

I understand. NO judgement here. Great job!

on May. 15 2012 at 9:18 am
pianokeysevie SILVER, Clinton, Maryland
6 articles 0 photos 50 comments

Favorite Quote:
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

i would have said the same if this was any longer, but i liked the length.. i didn't find it boring

WR1T3R GOLD said...
on Apr. 23 2012 at 7:35 pm
WR1T3R GOLD, Bloomfield, New Mexico
10 articles 2 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
'Laziness comes from receiving rewards without the effort'

I loved it! You did a wonderful job! =)

on Apr. 23 2012 at 6:59 pm
satellite23 GOLD, Cincinnati, Ohio
14 articles 0 photos 100 comments

Favorite Quote:
Prove it.

Very desciptive, but a bit cliche and boring.

kyrireese GOLD said...
on Apr. 23 2012 at 2:43 pm
kyrireese GOLD, Dallas, Texas
17 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everything will absolutely be all right."
"Hold fast to dreams." - Langston Hughes

Brilliant.

on Apr. 23 2012 at 1:13 pm
Whitney Smith BRONZE, Scottsdale, Arizona
2 articles 0 photos 4 comments
I thought the context was very well written. The word usage was very good and it was also very descriptive.

lonleygal said...
on Apr. 23 2012 at 11:07 am
lonleygal, Bedford, Kentucky
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
" all i lov'd - i lov'd alone"

there are so many times i feel the same way I love how you are not afraid to let your feelings out

Indilove GOLD said...
on Apr. 23 2012 at 7:57 am
Indilove GOLD, Kenockee, Michigan
17 articles 0 photos 71 comments

Favorite Quote:
No one is your strength or guidance. If life is what you wish to live then do not bind your soul to something unreal. The creater nor the keeper can heal you for it is blind faith that leads you.

Great visualization Great description Great overall work VERY well done!!!!

on Apr. 18 2012 at 11:02 pm
logo1234 BRONZE, Scottsdale, Arizona
1 article 0 photos 5 comments
I really like how you related yourself to the flames. Very good description, made it easy to visualize in my head.  I definitely feel that it resembles a candle, bright one second and gone the next.

on Apr. 12 2012 at 7:19 am
Light_Walker SILVER, Lafayette, Indiana
7 articles 1 photo 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
“There comes a time in our lives when we do things that we don’t understand. We confuse ourselves, we might even logically oppose our impulses and yet we act on them anyway... There are some things that we feel that we absolutely must do. We might know that they are wrong, or pointless, or gravely punishable, and yet we do them anyway. These actions are not born of anger or emotion – we are perfectly sober. It’s rather inexplicable. When the time comes, we can’t stop ourselves and so we cannot blame ourselves.” -Umasi, Truancy

I have felt the same. You have captured how many people feel in their life perfectly. I hope your flame will burn forever bright!

on Apr. 3 2012 at 6:31 pm
Lola_Black GOLD, Harrison, Michigan
11 articles 2 photos 276 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I've always been famous. It's just everybody's just now finding out." --Lady Gaga

I understand.

on Apr. 1 2012 at 5:57 pm
DanielleD BRONZE, Huachuca City, Arizona
1 article 0 photos 3 comments

This poem is beautiful and well written. I'd love if you would check out some of my work too! :-)

TeenInk.com/poetry/free_verse/article/443185/A-House-Divided/


on Apr. 1 2012 at 10:03 am
dragonfly95 SILVER, Argaon, Georgia
7 articles 0 photos 66 comments

Favorite Quote:
'' there is nothing to fear but fear its self''

this beatifuly written...i am sorry for the pain you have felt and expressed in this poem...very well expressed, please check out my work sometime.thanks!

on Apr. 1 2012 at 9:54 am
beautifulspirit PLATINUM, Alpharetta, Georgia
35 articles 0 photos 1398 comments

Favorite Quote:
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
--Eleanor Roosevelt

I like this piece---the idea of the speaker finding resemblance with a natural element, such as water or fire attracts my attention. Usually, when fire is introduced in a poem it is associated with destruction or ot of control. This was not the case, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

GittaR GOLD said...
on Apr. 1 2012 at 4:55 am
GittaR GOLD, Ararat, Other
10 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
Every man has purpose with which he sets out in his life. Let yours be the doing of all good deeds- Robin Hood BBC Series

I don't judge, I understand completly and as I read that poem my own memories....which I am sure are similiar to yours burned through. This is an amazing piece, I totally get it.