Flame | Teen Ink

Flame MAG

December 1, 2008
By Anonymous

I watch this flame pass
from match to wick,
gently stepping over
a great divide.
This flame and I
are not so different:
it comes into being from nothingness;
it eats and grows, smokes, and rests.
It gets angry,
destroys homes,
consumes flesh.
Sated, it becomes calm,
retreats into coals,
smoldering through the night.
Domesticated
by a piece of string,
it makes its home in a cave of wax.
It chases the shadows away
and stands watch through the night.
It sways
and dances in the darkness
before it is extinguished
in the blink
of an eye.


The author's comments:
What inspired me to write this was: my life resembles a candle light. Bright at times, then it completely turns around and I feel dark, sad, and abandoned. I hope whoever reads this will feel what I felt, and not judge, but understand. Thank you.

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This article has 293 comments.


Dre_2021 said...
on Oct. 15 2020 at 8:22 am
Dre_2021, Ewing, New Jersey
0 articles 0 photos 16 comments
I liked how you described the flame as something more, it wasn’t just an ordinary flame.

on May. 4 2018 at 10:00 pm
Birdwing BRONZE, Westminster, Colorado
4 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
-Albert Einstein

The personification you gave to the flame was very unique and beautiful, and I thought the word choice was spot-on.

on Feb. 28 2018 at 10:16 am
Paulilopezf BRONZE, Santo Domingo, Other
4 articles 0 photos 1 comment
gretrtrtrtrtrtrtrt

on Feb. 28 2018 at 8:14 am
Poetgirl1 PLATINUM, Linesville, Pennsylvania
30 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
You have made it through 100% of your bad days so far. Keep going.

This is an amazing piece. The use of metaphors is really good and relate able. I really liked how you expressed that a flame is wild but also can be calm. Great job, keep writing.

really is an amazing poem

Fantastic poem,very nice

ElQuako BRONZE said...
on Dec. 8 2017 at 11:51 am
ElQuako BRONZE, Boston, Massachusetts
2 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
shoot for the moon even if you miss you'll die alone in space

haha this was funny

on Nov. 10 2017 at 2:08 pm
Elizabeth2001 BRONZE, Durand, Michigan
4 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.”

I love this poem. I can relate to this poem, it's like my life.

TheVG GOLD said...
on Sep. 5 2017 at 6:50 pm
TheVG GOLD, Fair Haven, Vermont
13 articles 4 photos 11 comments
I like the hidden meaning in this poem - very creative!

Narsy said...
on Jun. 10 2017 at 8:11 am
I like it, it's a sad poem

on Apr. 4 2017 at 7:36 am
HereSheIs BRONZE, Wellesley, Massachusetts
3 articles 0 photos 187 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." -Plato

So amazing and well-written

on Mar. 3 2017 at 9:12 am
Angelina_Best_Writer BRONZE, Spring Valley, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Suicide isn't cowardly what is, is treating someone so badly that they want to end their lives"

This just speaks to me so clearly, this poem is literally my life. Amazing work.

Ro.nell said...
on Jan. 28 2017 at 7:08 am
Ro.nell, Mokopane, Other
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

I really loved this! Great poem, I could feel it speaking to my insides! lovit lovit.

on Dec. 15 2016 at 5:02 pm
brookiecookie17, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
Honestly, I was a little skeptical when I clicked to read this, but you have serious talent! I relate a lot, and I loved the way that you presented your emotions. Keep up the good work!

on Dec. 1 2016 at 9:25 am
SwankySally GOLD, Monroe, Louisiana
17 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."-Robert Frost

i like this poem alot. Whenever i first read it, i skimmed honestly. It made me think that you were comparing yourself to the match and the wick. Happiness reminded me of the flame. You can be happy, and have it bright, but sometimes it can get smoldered away by bad circumstances. Also, you can share happiness with someone and pass it on, or you can lose it and someone can take it away. It shows irony about optimism and pessimism. Pessimism because sometimes we can't all be happy, and optimism because somehow if we try hard enough, we can all be happy

on Nov. 30 2016 at 5:17 am
LeisurelySketches GOLD, Tricity, Other
10 articles 1 photo 73 comments

Favorite Quote:
Your life has a limit but knowledge has none. (Zhuangzi)

Very nice, a beautiful poem.

on Nov. 2 2016 at 12:13 pm
Mads1405 SILVER, Pasco, Washington
5 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Granny Sheeran told me when I'm looking for a partner to fall in love with their eyes cause eyes are the only things that don't age, so if you fall in love with their eyes you'll be in love forever." -Ed Sheeran

This is so good.

on Nov. 1 2016 at 12:45 pm
JeyceDAspartan, New Kent, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
You have to be the wolf to fight the wolf

So amazing

on Aug. 5 2016 at 12:20 am
pineappler03 SILVER, Waterford, Connecticut
6 articles 1 photo 61 comments
OMG I love this!

on Jul. 14 2016 at 3:59 pm
Kaylene_Kristofferson BRONZE, Spokane, Washington
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
That was very warm felt and great