some call love a flame
but why would one’s love
be compared to a destructive heat?
an uncontrollable burn?
all flames eventually
reduce to ashes
bringing a sting to the eyes;
smoke creeping down their throats
sinister dark tendrils
choking them out
all i see is the red in their pupils;
an insatiable blaze
reflecting in their irises
though i do see small inklings of their point
for your love gives me warmth;
a comforting glow
your touch like a tender flicker
without the searing smolder of a usual burn
mild and forbearing
like the sharp yet sweet scent of chai
in a cool evening’s petrichor
your coffee stained eyes hold no inferno
only benign endearment
that makes me melt away
softly
as if you sit atop a charred wick
burning away gently
perhaps the mask i wear
is made of wax
for it is gone now
i need not wear it around you
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This was a wonderful poem! You questioned why love is likened to flame, an item of destruction. I believe that you structured your argument critically and lyrically. In my opinion, the description of the flame would fit the sickening passions of lust and obsession as they are both destructive despite their initial warmth. You describe love as warm, but never painful. Like a tender flicker, it warms instead of burns. It purifies instead of chars. I love how the poem is not a cynical criticism of how love is likened to a flame. It's more of a question because of the emotions that was experienced, how true love is not a flame. Instead, it is comforting and loving. It shows the best side of self, tearing down any mask. Overall, well done!!
Ahhh thank you so much! You got exactly what I was going for.
My pleasure!
Howdy hey! Gengar here for a review!
This poem brings up quite an interesting question. I’ve actually never thought about it before, but it does make sense.
I especially like the imagery used here:
The depiction of “love” in the first few stanzas possibly represents lust, which burns out quickly like a candle. But the last few stanzas shows real love, which is cozy and warm and in which people take off their masks, so to speak (“perhaps the mask i wear / is made of wax / for it is gone now; / i need not wear it around you”)
I also really liked the overall tone of the poem. It doesn’t feel critical, but rather someone who gas experienced true love sharing their side of the story.
Keep up the good work!
—GengarIsBestBoy
Thanks so much for reading!
Overall, I think this poem is fairly realistic and has some great fire imagery. I especially loved the line "an insatiable blaze" which, as previously mentioned, may link to ideas of lust and perhaps a melodramatic depiction of what love truly is. Ideally a rhyming scheme would be nice (forgive me if I haven't spotted one in this poem, though). A decent poem, overall-thoroughly enjoyed it.
This poem is more free verse and I prefer it without a rhyme scheme but thank you for the review