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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.

© Anonymous

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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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 293 comments.

ripvansprinkle said...
on Jun. 22 2016 at 9:56 am
ripvansprinkle, West Chester, Ohio
0 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Smash the mirrors but avoid the pieces.&quot; - B. McNally

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I love the idea of a flame being "domesticated." Beautifully structured and incredibly well-written! I would love your feedback on my poem "Sunburst" if you get the chance!
kaylalynn84 SILVER said...
on May. 31 2016 at 9:11 pm
kaylalynn84 SILVER, Hutchinson, Kansas
6 articles 0 photos 4 comments
View profile
Masterfully crafted. It is the longed for disturbance in a monotonous sea of poetry.
ambivalent SILVER said...
on May. 31 2016 at 6:01 pm
ambivalent SILVER, West Bend, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 180 comments

Favorite Quote:
everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. the worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. [sylvia plath]

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sad, but worded in a beautiful way
dpurdy said...
on May. 9 2016 at 12:14 pm
dpurdy, Craryville Ny, New York
0 articles 0 photos 22 comments

Favorite Quote:
always love yourself no matter what.

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wow its great
dpurdy said...
on May. 9 2016 at 12:14 pm
dpurdy, Craryville Ny, New York
0 articles 0 photos 22 comments

Favorite Quote:
always love yourself no matter what.

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this is gorgeous
niciolah SILVER said...
on Mar. 26 2016 at 11:02 pm
niciolah SILVER, South Riding, Virginia
5 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Whoever has ears, let them hear.&quot; Matthew 13:9

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This is gorgeous. I love poetry about fire. Stunning.
marie.trisha said...
on Feb. 11 2016 at 3:39 pm
marie.trisha,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
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help me plx help help plz help me me me
Trench_Coat BRONZE said...
on Jan. 20 2016 at 11:26 am
Trench_Coat BRONZE, PERU, Indiana
2 articles 1 photo 33 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Promise me you&#039;ll survive. <br /> That you won&#039;t give up, <br /> no matter what happens,<br /> no matter how hopeless&quot;- Titanic

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WOW......This is wow...
nicnery GOLD said...
on Jan. 20 2016 at 3:37 am
nicnery GOLD, Hong Kong, Other
15 articles 0 photos 1 comment

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&quot;Do not think that you are as worthless as a white crayon, you just need to find someone who likes black paper&quot;

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wow! this is amazing!
onetrueword DIAMOND said...
on Dec. 29 2015 at 7:01 am
onetrueword DIAMOND, Chiang Mai, Other
53 articles 0 photos 9 comments
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good good!!
dpowell3543 PLATINUM said...
on Nov. 15 2015 at 9:46 pm
dpowell3543 PLATINUM, Topeka, Kansas
24 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
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I understand.
Darius_Nobles GOLD said...
on Sep. 10 2015 at 11:33 am
Darius_Nobles GOLD, San Angelo, Texas
17 articles 0 photos 12 comments

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&#039;Today you are you, and that&#039;s truer than true. There&#039;s no one alive that&#039;s youer than you.&quot; Dr. Seuss

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TeenInk.com/users/Darius_Nobles Please good check out my writing and leave constructive comments. Thank You
WHYSOSERIOUS BRONZE said...
on Jul. 28 2015 at 10:07 pm
WHYSOSERIOUS BRONZE, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
being honest may not get you may friends, but it will get you the right ones.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> -John Lennon

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Amazing.yeah i know that feeling too i think everyone understands at least a little bit of that feeling
jamson BRONZE said...
on May. 23 2015 at 9:03 pm
jamson BRONZE, Kelowna, Other
3 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
My philosophy: it&rsquo;s none of my business what people say of me and think of me. I am what I am and I do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. And it makes life so much easier.

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This is amazing, congratulations on getting it posted in the magazine, you have true talent. :)
Anyacook4 SILVER said...
on May. 23 2015 at 4:26 am
Anyacook4 SILVER, Pineapple, Other
5 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you can&#039;t fly then run, if you can&#039;t run then walk, if you can&#039;t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.&rdquo;― Martin Luther King Jr.

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please can you have a look at my account if you have a chance. Would love for people to comment and give it a rate! :) Excellent poem by the way!
jaygatsbycastillo SILVER said...
on May. 1 2015 at 12:58 pm
jaygatsbycastillo SILVER, Hemet, California
7 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
Never let fear decide your future.

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Yeah I know exactly how that feels... sometimes you feel you're shining bright and the next moment your flame goes out with just one breath of air!
Nelly_Nell GOLD said...
on May. 1 2015 at 12:10 am
Nelly_Nell GOLD, Bakersfield, California
11 articles 0 photos 60 comments

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&#039;&#039; For every dark night there is an even brighter day&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> -Tupac Shukar

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This is an amazing poem i love the way it was written.
jamson BRONZE said...
on Apr. 9 2015 at 9:41 pm
jamson BRONZE, Kelowna, Other
3 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
My philosophy: it&rsquo;s none of my business what people say of me and think of me. I am what I am and I do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. And it makes life so much easier.

View profile
This is so beautiful and you are so talented!
Izzy777 SILVER said...
on Apr. 9 2015 at 10:17 am
Izzy777 SILVER, Tampa, Florida
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This is so beautifully written. I wrote something similar two years ago and this honestly reminds me of myself. Continue writing, don't let that fire burn out.
joebro SILVER said...
on Feb. 24 2015 at 11:42 am
joebro SILVER, Compton, California
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Dreams are like a box of chocolates, if you hold on and think about them for to long it will all start to melt away.

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omg this is the best poem I have ever read on this site so far.. im really lost for words, I would really love it if you check out some of my stuff