Chicagoetry: Great Fire

Great Fire

Eyes: bring water.
Great fire burning through.
Apollo, sun-god, king
Of shadows,

Let me burn.
He commanded the shadows
To flee
And there was me,

Animal and panicking.
Self-immolation,
Silent as shadow,
Now shrieking

Like a Valkyrie.
Another blood-red star
On my tattered standard.
No round of drinks

Can extinguish this.
Corrupt, excoriating bliss.
Apollo commanded the shadows
To flee

And there was me,
Animal and panicking.
Blame Apollo, blame Romulus,
Blame Tribune.

Yet they do not father
This flame.
The only king
Of my grief

Is me. The fire bell
Tolls for me. Not thee.
I must change
My life.

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J.J. Tindall is the Beachwood's poet-in-residence. He welcomes your comments. Chicagoetry is an exclusive Beachwood collection-in-progress.

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More Tindall:

* Chicagoetry: The Book

* Ready To Rock: The Music

* Kindled Tindall: The Novel

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