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.


on Feb. 2 2015 at 4:44 pm
Turbo223 SILVER, Lancaster, Wisconsin
6 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
Is there a way to escape something unescapable?

Looks great!

MAL.1814 said...
on Feb. 2 2015 at 11:58 am
I used to feel just like this. I have finally overcome that feeling though. I hope that you will too. I used to feel like it would never go away that I would be stuck there for ever, but trust me you wont just give it time and it will go away. I hope that you start to feel loved again.

on Jan. 11 2015 at 1:53 pm
DesmineRobinson PLATINUM, Melvindale, Michigan
27 articles 2 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life is an opportunity."
"Different is normal."
"We have to love ourselves, so we can properly love someone else."

You have some nice vocabulary there! You go!!!!

on Dec. 20 2014 at 8:02 pm
WindRunner GOLD, Troy, Michigan
11 articles 0 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will fly on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

This is beautiful. I love it!

on Nov. 6 2014 at 2:07 pm
ArcticMonkeys14 GOLD, Waianae, Hawaii
14 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"to die would be an awefully big adventure" "to live would be an awefully big adventure"

its good and true to my life as well

on Oct. 15 2014 at 3:18 pm
HJRPeters BRONZE, Monticello, Illinois
1 article 0 photos 2 comments
I really liked the way you used your words very deep. Poetry like this should get its own award.

on Oct. 15 2014 at 12:24 am
TravelerenRoute GOLD, Ribera, New Mexico
13 articles 1 photo 65 comments

Favorite Quote:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
Marianne Williamson

You did a great job!!

on Oct. 15 2014 at 12:22 am
TravelerenRoute GOLD, Ribera, New Mexico
13 articles 1 photo 65 comments

Favorite Quote:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
Marianne Williamson

I completely agree!

AJ_Bettick said...
on Sep. 23 2014 at 12:31 pm
AJ_Bettick, Eau Claire, Michigan
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
It's only hard if you let it be hard.

I love this poem.  It's a really cool metphor

on Sep. 1 2014 at 4:07 pm
StarryGrunge BRONZE, New Castle, Indiana
2 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
“If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I'm neurotic as hell. I'll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days.”
~ by Sylvia Plath, (from The Bell Jar)

Impressive. I love your metaphor of being like the flame. I can relate. Good job on getting this published, you deserve it!

on Oct. 19 2012 at 7:38 am
LittleStormWriterGG SILVER, Malvern, Iowa
8 articles 0 photos 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
Imagination is more important than knowledge. ~ Albert Einstein
Smile, laugh, love. :)

I think you did a wonderful job without over doing it. :) You're getting: five stars.

Bomer SILVER said...
on Oct. 16 2012 at 6:16 pm
Bomer SILVER, Midland, Texas
6 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
You have all the weapons you need now fight
No matter how far behind you are or how slow you progress you are still way ahead of anyone whos not trying

wow i never would have thought of that. Its so positive it was breath taking thank you for your piece

on Oct. 16 2012 at 12:15 pm
SweetThing SILVER, Paradox, New York
6 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"right now might be stormy weather but it cant rain forever"

i love how you wrote it in a relatable sense 

on Oct. 16 2012 at 12:05 pm
Tswag808 BRONZE, Crestone, Colorado
2 articles 0 photos 5 comments
nice job that was a great poem

on Sep. 24 2012 at 11:06 am
MarieAntoinette2014 DIAMOND, Scottsburg, Indiana
54 articles 2 photos 237 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isn't it ironic? We ignore the ones who adore us, adore the ones who ignore us, love the ones who hurt us, and hurt the ones that love us.

Aren't we all candles at one time or another? it really makes you think.

on Aug. 11 2012 at 12:22 pm
writer3499 GOLD, New Bedford, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 196 comments

Favorite Quote:
"it's impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might has well not have lived at all-in which case you fail by default."
-J.K.Rowling

Beautiful! And it's really well writen...love it! It's relatable and powerful, great peom!!

on Aug. 11 2012 at 2:21 am
shaylapurple16 PLATINUM, Hong Kong, Other
29 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Writing doesn’t mean deciding to sit still all of your life and think. Ideas come from living and experiencing life, and then stepping back to think." -Shayla

Wow. This is a great poem! It's so relatable and expresses so many things. Congrats on getting in the magazine :) Maybe someday I will too...please read my stuff if you'd like! Great job!  

on Jul. 20 2012 at 4:56 pm
juicyfan6 BRONZE, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." - J.K. Rowling

Great job! I understand where you're coming from, and this poem was written very well! 

on Jul. 20 2012 at 12:54 am
livelovelaugh353 SILVER, San Carlos, California
5 articles 0 photos 12 comments
This was beautifully written and I completely understand where you are coming from. I hope you are able to keep your candle lit (:

on Jun. 29 2012 at 12:07 pm
mellowmari SILVER, Chicago, Illinois
5 articles 3 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Life lives, life dies. Life laughs, life cries. Life gives up and life tries. But life looks different through everyone's eyes.”

This poem really showcases your feelings! I give it two thumbs up!