Ebbing Away

Ebbing Away

A fire slowly ebbs away
like a smoldering redhead on a barstool
heat reassuring as you stir her coals
over - now under - over again
like a firepit
she gratefully takes your limbs
caressing them with the feminine lick of flame
flick flicker flicker flick
her knowing eyes hail your embrace
you weld together as she arcs
into brilliant sparks that
cascade
down
to places
of the heart
where you've not felt illumined
in the deepest byways
like a songbird's flyways
she'll fly there
long after she's left
and all that rests
are ashes
within
a ring of stone