Fire scorched for a second,
and infernal flare, retching my
limbs, my flesh of ash, from my
body.

Water trickles in my dry eyes.
My lips tremble beneath my
bite. Blood drained from my
burning skin, frosted dry.
There is no air to breathe yet my
lungs swell- and choking, I
prick my fingertip and rub my
cheeks.

If you look into my blackened eye,
my stormy clouds will never cry.
The pain, my skin is numb though I
drink the smoke and eat my
flames.

On shaken legs again I try.
Wobble in stance where muscles fry.
My toes all black, I clench my
teeth, screaming for I don't know why
I cannot escape the ropes Hell ties.

For, after all, it was
I
who lit the
torch.