My heart has been abused
It’s been shattered
Bruised and battered.
But today,
Today it was burned.

The charred black embers
On the left hand side-
A shocking contrast
To the bold blood red.
I never dared to think,
Never dared to dream
That I would have a single
Mark of black
Upon my heart.

And yet, here it is,
Plain as day,
This charcoal black as night.

A heart with so much black
Is often thought to be
A soul that’s lost its way.
A Person with less feeling,
One who doesn't give a care.

And I cannot lie,
As this burn shadows
The most tender part of me-
I find it tempting,
To explore;
The more primal parts
Of human life.

The darker parts,
The places no pure heart would go.
Because now I have a ticket.
With this brand across my heart-
I get free entrance,
To those shady parts of life.
So far I have resisted;
Ignored that glorious temptation.

But now I give this warning:
If you plan to burn a heart,
And one that’s not your own-
You have to understand
What it is that you are doing
And that there will always,
I promise always,
Be consequences
That cannot be avoided,
And you, yourself
Will have to pay.