Flames of Change

Spark and falter
Burn and smolder
Dangerous light in the dark
Brightly crackles and warms
Only to become hidden searing pain
Quickly growing, changing pattern

Out of control and licking the clouds
Taking over in the dead of night
Sparkling, crackling, peace in silence
Now becoming the death of millions
Overtaking old lives with destruction
Skeletons of the past left standing

What now? A new beginning?
Starting over from nothing, a silent reward
Fire destroying all that we once held
Comfortable, dear to our hearts
But secretly holding us back
Keeping us from new growth
Moving forward to leave the past behind

Ashes of yesterday slowly disappear
Soaked in tomorrow's promise of rain
Tiptoeing away in the night with the breeze
Even as we hide and weep in sorrow
Mourning memories and complacency
Tomorrow comes, a grim reminder

Somewhere the sun still rises and sets
With each day, a strength we do not know
Keeps us going, keeps us breathing
Meant for something more, we look up
But if only for a fleeting moment
Something so simple, yet so difficult
Focus and hold tight, choose healing

As the clouds pass in the sky above
Behind them is a light so bright and renewing
Next day may bring darkness again
More thunderstorms and pain
But without the rain, we will fade away
Perfection unattainable here
What does light mean without a darkness?