When I was little,
I played with fire
That blazed on and on in the fireplace.

I threw in paper and
Plastic straws that melted.
I was surprised to see the fire ignite- on my mother’s face.

She told me to be careful,
Otherwise, I’d burn.
And so, I got scared of that fire,
But no, I didn't learn.

I discovered fire
In my curious mind
That sped along.

The questions
That I asked
Sometimes turned out very wrong.

Father told me to be quiet -
to think before I talked.
And so I got scared of that fire,
But it seems fire had me stalked.

When I was no longer
A little child,
I found my favorite fire.

I argued and screamed
And debated without pause
And called everyone a liar.

Fire was my enemy.
Fire was my friend.
But now without fire, I cannot see
How I’ll live to the very end.