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.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 293 comments.


on Dec. 13 2011 at 7:26 am
xo19brandee93xo SILVER, Griswold, Connecticut
6 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted-One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?"

That was great! :D

Violet said...
on Nov. 21 2011 at 7:19 pm
This has to be one of my favorite poems on teen ink!  Keep up your amazingness!!!!!!   :)

Nick said...
on Nov. 21 2011 at 5:27 pm
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! That was extremily awesome! Keep it up!

on Nov. 21 2011 at 4:42 pm
CrazyGirl01 SILVER, Gibbon, Minnesota
7 articles 2 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." ~Albus Dumbledore

This was awesome!

on Nov. 21 2011 at 7:32 am
RedFeather GOLD, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12 articles 0 photos 155 comments

Favorite Quote:
Prose is like walking but poetry is like dancing.
—Paul Valery, poet (1871 - 1945)

That's a beautiful poem! I love the comparison of a person's life to a candle flame! I'm going to share this with my friends if you don't mind.

Check out some of my work sometime, will ya? KW! ^_^


on Oct. 8 2011 at 5:43 pm
Lola_Black GOLD, Harrison, Michigan
11 articles 2 photos 276 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I've always been famous. It's just everybody's just now finding out." --Lady Gaga

Beautiful comparison! I love the way it's written, by the way. Very relatable, too. Powerful. All around, it's an awesome poem!

on Oct. 8 2011 at 12:22 pm
KPetty13 BRONZE, Saint Cloud, Florida
4 articles 0 photos 22 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you're lucky enought to be different, never change." ~ Taylor Swift

This poem was absolutely incredible! It was relatable, and if it wasn't for the fact that it was posted on this website I would've thought it was written by a professional poet! Great job!

on Sep. 16 2011 at 6:04 pm
Come-n-Gone GOLD, Unionville, Missouri
10 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isn't it funny how it only takes a few seconds to say hi, but forever to say goodbye?

so true! keep writing. and i'm sooo tagging this as a favorite!!!

on Sep. 16 2011 at 1:20 pm
WeAllBurn PLATINUM, Vermilion, Ohio
24 articles 0 photos 71 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~Mahatma Gandhi

agreed <3.

on Aug. 25 2011 at 9:02 pm
Mimi15 PLATINUM, Belfast, Maine
49 articles 0 photos 73 comments
CHECK OUT MY WORKKK. K, thanks :)

on Aug. 25 2011 at 10:42 am
bamboom212 PLATINUM, Chestnut Ridge, New York
23 articles 0 photos 155 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The truth with a bad intent, is worse than any lie you can ever invent."
"You are smarter than you think. You are stronger than you look. You are braver than you feel."

Butiful ! (;

on Aug. 25 2011 at 8:54 am
WhoWillCareIfEveryoneDied GOLD, Indianapolis, Indiana
12 articles 1 photo 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
My life is everything but so were you, My life is unscratchable but then you riped me apart.

Beautiful. i have work on here i would really appreciate it if you guys can check it out and tell me what you think. Thanks :)

cookiegirl said...
on Aug. 25 2011 at 4:50 am
I like how you use cnadle light to represent your life: )  Your words are powerful.  

on Aug. 3 2011 at 1:25 pm
live-laugh-love SILVER, Meriden, Connecticut
8 articles 2 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We don't need to rush. If somethings bound to happen, it will happen. In the right time, with the right person and for the best reason."

This is very lovely and moving. I can feel where you're coming from. I love it.

on Aug. 3 2011 at 12:25 pm
RhythmAndRhyme BRONZE, Rockford, Michigan
4 articles 0 photos 91 comments

Favorite Quote:
"There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva." ~~Josh Groban

Great use of description and comparison. I totally felt like I was this flame, and it was me....very cool.

Alan said...
on Aug. 3 2011 at 6:15 am
This is lovely, touching. I feel you. beautiful piece!

Ellimee said...
on Jul. 14 2011 at 11:55 am
I'm labeling this unique, interesting, realistic, creative.... oh, and five-stars!

on Jul. 12 2011 at 3:00 am
tarynpie BRONZE, Scottsdale, Arizona
2 articles 1 photo 28 comments
I understand. I feel what you feel. This is beautiful! Simple metaphor but amazingly written.

on Jun. 20 2011 at 10:23 pm
Impressive! It gives a powerful perspective on life and gives a figurative life to flame. Very, very Impressive... No other word except maybe Wow(!). :)

on Jun. 20 2011 at 8:04 am
K.M.S.Shear BRONZE, Cherokee, Iowa
2 articles 0 photos 57 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Some people think writing is a waist of their time. For me it’s a way to draw an image of myself through the painting of words."

I love the way you describe life.