Drip

There is a flame which dances under my heart A candle that flickers and fills my chest with smoke Just far enough that I can feel each bead forming Before it drips off and is swept away in my veins The slow collapsing of something so powerful Smoke blurs the soggy edges of my life source Like the gradual melting of a stone First the sweat appears on the surface Then the dimples of weakness begin to show Instead of an overwhelming wave of heat It initiates with a basic discomfort And escalates to a panicked fever Then progresses to a constant groan of aching Each step becomes weaker and with less purpose Less hope, less confidence, less love Because of this simple flame which dances so effortlessly Beneath the not so thick walls of my heart.