Man On Fire

He took risks you might not have Thinking that he deserved to beat the odds Flames like heated fiery thorns Eat through his flesh numbing as they go In pain, he swirls, his muscles roil He wishes, Oh he wishes it would end, be over His burning enthusiasm is consumed and charred Blackened by the flames of false expectations Reducing now into a smoldering heap After all, he did set himself on fire Believing the illusions, the lies he told For power, more power, grasping for it As the dark smoke fills his lungs Choking his life's last breath Scoffing at man's inhumanity to man Inhaling humankind's immolation As if were not his fault at all This man on fire could be you And so, the soul crinkles up into a ball inside What's left of you has no place to hide 145 words free verse Colored Pencil illustration G.Gaul 2024