Fire Bomb

My soul opens and the fires pour in

a huge downdraft rushes 

through my inner core

igniting the embers of my creativity

I roar in combustion

my mind explodes in a burst of flames

which quickly scorches fingertips

and forces me to hurry

This fire bomb of words and feelings

too strong, too powerful 

comes from every direction

pounds me to the ground

I’m suffocating in a fury of words

I can’t write fast enough!

I can’t breathe!

Because, of course, I’ll die

if I can’t get the words down

if I forget anything

if I misinterpret the message

But I don’t die and 

suddenly it’s over

the fires go out

leaving me drained and exhausted

I can breathe again 

and in a few seconds of rest

I relish the emptiness

As my scorched soul quickly heals

I inhale … exhale …

my mind kicks in again

I pick myself up, 

sort through the debris

The editing begins

words forming an article or a poem 

What amazing accomplishment!

Once more, I am filled with a marvelous joy!

Embers in My Soul

My gut churns 

with longing

Embers deep in my soul

barely glow

Breezes of thought

stir the coals

But not enough to fan 

the fires of creativity

A word, a thought, a sight

a spark glimmers

Emotions jumble

clamber to be free

My soul falls on paper

in words, in color

Sometimes painstakingly slow

other times a rushing flood

A poem or painting

an intense brilliance of joy

Cries to be seen, shared 

its light … my light …

casting a balance 

with the shadows of life

Not just for me

but for all

Initial burst over

my mind quiets

Flames recede

to smoldering embers

while my soul

rests in joy and emptiness

until the next flare up

the next creative flash

Stampede

Thoughts, ideas

excitingly rush through me

like a herd of stampeding cattle

Thundering hooves

shake the ground

freeze me on the sidelines

All I can do is stare

as words and impressions

rush by in speeds

too fast, too strong

too dangerous 

to grasp

With great courage

my mind reaches into the melee

to grab bits and pieces

Pen to paper

I slowly put together fragments

place words on a page

Form them into a cohesive plan

the latest, greatest idea

gathers momentum … but

too late, too old

too busy

to make happen.

-- Sasha Wolfe