The Shape of Ash

Wood burns hotly Then embers Then ash Where or what is life and love When embers cool down? Where is substance When at a touch the embers Disintegrate? Is the substance real or is it just shape? A shadow of what was, A sculpture of fate? Is the coolness all there is left? Or is there still something In elemental belief? When the Gaslamp Burns its new sock The sock turns to ash Yet still defies the clock It still holds its shape, Even if touched it’s just ash But when given a light It still burns bright Defying understanding Confounding insight.