Flame | Teen Ink

Flame MAG

December 1, 2008
By Anonymous

I watch this flame pass
from match to wick,
gently stepping over
a great divide.
This flame and I
are not so different:
it comes into being from nothingness;
it eats and grows, smokes, and rests.
It gets angry,
destroys homes,
consumes flesh.
Sated, it becomes calm,
retreats into coals,
smoldering through the night.
Domesticated
by a piece of string,
it makes its home in a cave of wax.
It chases the shadows away
and stands watch through the night.
It sways
and dances in the darkness
before it is extinguished
in the blink
of an eye.


The author's comments:
What inspired me to write this was: my life resembles a candle light. Bright at times, then it completely turns around and I feel dark, sad, and abandoned. I hope whoever reads this will feel what I felt, and not judge, but understand. Thank you.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 293 comments.


on Dec. 16 2009 at 6:42 pm
LiGht-ChaseR GOLD, Out There, Oklahoma
11 articles 1 photo 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The Dark is generous, and it is patient, and it always wins, but in the heart of its strength lies weakness: One lone candle is enough to hold it back.
Love is more than a candle.
Love can ignite the stars." -Matthew Stover

i just love it. wonderful--the picture, words, adjectives, flow...everything. I love the comparison you made between you and the candle. The way you describe it... I don't know. Definetely one of my favorites!

on Nov. 25 2009 at 9:18 pm
Miss_Bliss GOLD, Waban, Massachusetts
17 articles 0 photos 31 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If we did all the things we were capable of, we would literally astound ourselves."

-Thomas Edison

This is wonderfully written. I, too have compared aspects of life to a flame (if you look at my page, you will find the poem "A Helpful Flame"), and admire how artfully you compared yours. Well done! Keep up the good work!

BoJammin GOLD said...
on Nov. 25 2009 at 8:30 pm
BoJammin GOLD, Niantic, Connecticut
12 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A ship is safe in a harbour, but that is not where a ship is meant to stay"

this is excellently written. the metaphor isso great, that i dont even think you need the line about how your life is like the candel; i think you imply that. just an idea of course. great work

miriam SILVER said...
on Nov. 25 2009 at 7:30 pm
miriam SILVER, Skokie, Illinois
9 articles 0 photos 20 comments
this is beautifully written...

on Nov. 25 2009 at 6:30 pm
revolutionary BRONZE, Los Angeles, California
4 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The fiend in his own shape is less hideous than when he rages in the breast of man" - John Hawthorne

excellent, truly amazing and captivating; very commendable work, and im sure we can all relate to this

on Nov. 25 2009 at 1:12 pm
FlyleafFreak DIAMOND, Loveland, Colorado
51 articles 0 photos 203 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I have faith in fools;self confidence my friends call it"~Edger Allan Poe
"In this world of infinite insanity, your friends are the best psychiatrists you will ever have."~Me

Wow. This is fantastic! The imagery really captivated me and I could completely relate to it. Never stop writing, I love your work!

on Nov. 25 2009 at 11:31 am
literaryaddict PLATINUM, Albuquerque, New Mexico
23 articles 3 photos 157 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We're almost there and no where near it. All that matters is that we're going." Lorelai Gilmore, Gilmore Girls
"The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound." Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

this is such a great poem. i love that you used a candle flame as a metaphor for life.

on Nov. 25 2009 at 9:22 am
WriiteO2iinspiire SILVER, Little Falls, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
A real woman isn't perfect, and a perfect woman isn't real.

this is a really qood poem, i love the endinq.

Keep up the good work !

on Nov. 25 2009 at 9:02 am
DarkAngelEmotional SILVER, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8 articles 5 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
1) Things won't be positive unless you are positive.
2) Admit when you do something wrong and you will recive someting great in returne.
3) Curiosity didn't kill the cat it made the cat smarter because the cat won't do it again

I like this poem. its both mezmerising and inspiring. nice work! ; )

on Nov. 6 2009 at 2:49 pm
AbbotRabbit GOLD, Abolana, District Of Columbia
11 articles 0 photos 1028 comments

Favorite Quote:
This poem has great flow and insight.
I really enjoyed it.
Lovely poem darling =]
-Please check out the works that I have posted on here it would be highly appreciated and I think you would greatly enjoy them, Thankk youz-
XxIll tell you Im an orphan after you meet myy familyXx

This poem has great flow and insight.

I really enjoyed it.

Lovely poem darling =]

-Please check out the works that I have posted on here it would be highly appreciated and I think you would greatly enjoy them, Thankk youz-

XxThe Whole Time You Were Talking I Didnt Hear A Single Word You Said B/C Th3 Whole Time You Were Talking I Was Picturing You DeadXx

Breingan122 said...
on Nov. 3 2009 at 11:08 am
Breingan122, Solon, Maine
0 articles 0 photos 22 comments
very good! hahahahahhhhhhhh.

on Oct. 12 2009 at 6:53 pm
wordweaver96 PLATINUM, Winchester, Kentucky
37 articles 2 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
" It is not our abilities but our choices that show who we truly are. "
Albus Dumbledore


See, we really DON'T have anything to fear but fear itself!

i love this! it's mesmerising and entertaining!

kisses998 said...
on Oct. 12 2009 at 6:18 pm
this kinda like something i would write but you worded it so much better than i could have great job!!!

on Oct. 12 2009 at 6:06 pm
saby:)**** SILVER, Holyoke, Massachusetts
6 articles 8 photos 8 comments
this really good

on Oct. 12 2009 at 2:18 pm
SassyBeauty BRONZE, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4 articles 0 photos 9 comments
I think that you captured the way probably half the world feels-- including me;]

on Oct. 12 2009 at 1:21 pm
Greg Issak BRONZE, New City, New York
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment
wow this is really amazing

i can totally relate to this and it drew me in

Zero_K DIAMOND said...
on Oct. 12 2009 at 1:21 pm
Zero_K DIAMOND, Moosic, Pennsylvania
83 articles 0 photos 435 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life's no fun if you're not insane, otherwise you grow up to be an accountant." -Moi

I love fire and I love this poem.

-Blessed Be!

+++ZERO+++

on Oct. 12 2009 at 12:14 am
LuckieMistake PLATINUM, Florence, Colorado
22 articles 1 photo 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
"What doesn't kill me only, will make me stronger in my head..." Papa Roach, Kick In The Teeth

wow.thats really good.i loved it and i completely understand where you're coming from.i really wish i could write somthing this good.

on Sep. 20 2009 at 6:40 pm
Alexandria Pincheon BRONZE, Portland, Texas
2 articles 0 photos 2 comments
I can completely relate to every thought in this. I understood where this author was coming from. It was amazing and well written. I, too, feel as the author does. I loved it.

LilaW PLATINUM said...
on Sep. 20 2009 at 4:10 pm
LilaW PLATINUM, Brampton, ON, Other
21 articles 0 photos 43 comments

Favorite Quote:
Live. Laugh. Love. Fight. Flight. Get it right.<3

amazing. i love the way this was written