Given to Arson
The room smelt
of martyrdom,
of that time in chemistry
when I got too close
to the Bunsen burner.
I worked, obsessed
consumed by my alchemy,
withering your split-ends
balled in the bin. I transmuted
your pill packets, your manky tissues
while the fire made a song
of everything that had gone.I then turned the flame
on your books, your bass.
But I was finally defeated
by the sprinkler system.
I stood back coughing,
streaming with water,
freed, for the moment,
having conjured some tears.
Copyright © Gavin Stewart 1996-2006
Website http://www.gavinstewart.net
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