Dying Embers

It is dark, and you are blind.

It is quiet enough to hear your heart beating in your ears,

and yet

the noise about you is ceaseless and stirring like a storm cloud.

Chatter. Talk and teeth.

You are cold.

You are alone among the herd.

You are exhausted. ...You are so tired...

You are almost out of tries.

You have attempted to create fire from a spark,

but you have failed.

And you have failed.

And you have failed.

You know it is only a matter of that ever-precious time

before the last fighting ember unceremoniously smolders

and you succumb.

Only ash

to remember what you should have been.

It is dark, and you are blind.

But you have the memory of sight,

that ministry of magic when just the right words

combine

and combust

and burst

into a spectacular firework of dancing flame.

Your words can catch fire and

light the world if you let them.

Protect your ember.

Protect it with all the energy you can muster,

for it will free you from the darkness.

As long as your spark still sputters,

you are not yet dead.