Deborah Conway

She stood on the steps behind a man

He lit a cigarette and leaned on the rail

The smell of burning made her head clear

Thinking all the thoughts she hadn't thought for years

Everything that we have reminds us what we have lost

Old friends go to war

Love comes love goes

Everything that we have echoes what we desire

She prefers fire

Tomorrow no plan will carry her away

This evening the man well he wonders what to say

The sparks are lighting up the night sky

Possessions, letters now just fuel for history

And from the bridge she's seen

Water pale and green

She still prefers fire

Sometimes I dream that everything I own

Could burn up and

Leave me no sadness no home

A flame collapsing from the inside

Antiseptic, honest blue and purest white