…but the hunger

Lightning strikes soul to soul
a wild beauty, a burning torch
falling upon the snow
watching it melting
forming rivers upon the ground
a dance of fire and ice
of passion and restraint
igniting the blaze of a burning desire
one step forward two steps back
until all that remains are the ashes
and the memories of the fire

we are drawn to each other
like moths to the flames
unable to resist
the all-consuming heat
we know the danger
so we circle each other
until we can no longer abstain
and in the aftermath the force of it
brings me to my knees
I know this pain, I feel it now
a searing heat in my chest

my heart aches for you
for the tides of desire
but now there is nothing
nothing left, but the hunger
a bell tolls in the night air
a sharp, sweet sound
that stirs something ancient
and something wild, in me
and I feel my heart
beating like thunder
insatiable unquenchable

my longing swallows me whole
fire and ice both burn
both leave me trembling
ice melts, fire becomes ashes
both washed away in the next rain
but these fires, these wild fires
are built from buried desires
all it takes is one spark from a match
fuel to the flames
these blazing scars of desire
can never be extinguished

and I know now
that your dark eyes
are the only stars that I will ever need
the only pathway for me
to find my way home
so I surrender to these flames
and let them consume me
over and over again
as I quietly whisper your name
© Ann Bagnall