The Burning Desire

youth glows brightly
like fire at midnight
yet damned as quickly
as water extinguishes flame
the roads you choose
are the paths you take
as the fire leads you on
each step taking an iota
of your soul to hell
though you run from
its depths, its darkness
its charnel reek
salvation is what you seek
grasping with both hands
charred fingers slipping
as you plunge once again
into the burning depths
futile attempts at best
for redemption is
not yours to hold
and the glowing embers
caress your skin
where once the hands of men
groped and fondled
twisted into agony
for their pleasure
and creased with rippling scars
to forget is all you ask
the promised peace
an illusion
mocking with open arms
'come forth unto my bosum
and drink of the joy
of life'
but as you run
to be enfolded
within the endless embrace
you fail to see
the pitfalls at your feet
filled with the sullen coals
of your own past
unerringly they reach out
tangling your feet
dragging you back down
into the burning
loathesome agonizing melee
which above all things
torments your mind
and personifies
your deepest desire
as the ash falls
slowly blown by
the gentle summer wind
down into the pit
where all light fails