Best Poems Written by William Liu

Betrayed

Betrayed 
I see a feeble fire dancing in the night
Glimmering and struggling against the darkness
 A sour ash smell fills my nose as I stare at the crimson flames
My eyes burn from the fuse of air and smoke that swirls around my face
The fire cackles tenuously and burnt log halves into two
Sparks of light drift elegantly through the air
Soaring high into the crisp black night illuminating their path
 Then calmly they fall sizzling into the barren cold ground
The wind changes direction and blows forcingly on my face
 Caressing the fire making it twist and turn like a snake
An ecstatic dancer twirling in the wind
The breeze blows her flashy orange dress like effortless waves.
I take care of her, and support her to ensure her survival
I shower her with my affection and kindness
But as her haze rises and engulfs me, my gut advises me to withdraw. 
I sense something peculiar, but my feet stay planted 
Not wanting to leave the security encapsulating me by her familiarity
The wavering warmth oscillates side to side around me
Synchronizing to the same rhythm as my heart
I relax as a setting of calmness floods me
I will be always safe and loved. 

A sudden inferno blasts out and pounds me with simmering heat
 My affection is drained away, sucked clean like a vacuum
The fire waltzes freely outside the circle of charred rocks
Taunting me as it seethes the residue on the grass
More twisted than ever dancing vibrantly celebrating her success
Showcasing her array of colors and embroideries 
Slithering among trees and shrubs leaving a trail of furiously blazing fire 
Licking the base of a tree trunk scrambling up like a glowing squirrel 
Swinging from tree to tree creating an ocean of scorching fire
The fire cackles with authority and a new intensity 
A series of sweltering embers rupture
Bleaching the once intricate bark design to a ghastly white
The flames settle down after all is consumed
Nothing is left but a barren land that has no secrets
The unnatural silence of the night is chilling
I stand there dismayed and frozen in time
I feel empty
But I feel everything
I am broken
I am alone.

Copyright © William Liu | Year Posted 2019