again to flame

was once a night
remembered
and I awakened in the dark
for you were gone
(I hurt so bad that summer)
as in the place
of wonder
I was left with silent rain
a will-o-wisp
and the memory of touch
fell away
beneath the weight
of demons

forgotten what it was
to breathe
to love

the darkness
crushed against the cold
and I thought again
to flame -
a candle raised
arm-length to the sky
names were read
of stars I kept
sparks of long ago
streams of what we wanted
sailed as whispers
to the wind -

forever keeps
a tender flare -
sacred to the night
forgotten now
the falling
into dreams