Life is a single match
struck against the night,
too brief to linger cupped
in the hands of hesitation’s grasp,
too bright to hide
beneath the staircase of maybe.
We are born
above ground,
we walk over fire.
Doubt
settles as ash beneath our feet.
Fear
a ghost ember hardening to obsidian.
Cold shadows
cling to the smoke.
We are the dark reflection.
The mirror is the path
that reveals in light.
The flame becomes the spark.
Ready to rise again.
I was here, and I was not afraid.