Burning Bright

inspired by Fahrenheit 451 (by Ray Bradbury)

Pale skin shines in moonlight

dark eyes of gentle wonder

Flitting smile lining soft words

hands cupping the last yellow flower

brushing dewdrops on bowing grass.

A candle among blazing torches

mirror in an empty room

ticking hands of a clock

Confident, comforting

reflecting innocent truth.

Melody of a meaningless song

hidden oasis in a decaying world

a silent figure, cupped hands, head bent

holding the last flower of fall

standing among burning flames

pages crumbling like flightless birds

Fire, clean and quick,

until you fade too.

Author's Note

Clarisse McClellan deserves a poem :) I love Bradbury's poetic way of writing:
"The autumn leaves blew over the moonlit pavement..her face was slender and milk-white, and in it was a kind of gentle hunger that touched over everything with tireless curiosity."
If you haven't read F451 yet, I really suggest you do. It's less than 200 pages, but they say so much. Honestly, the world felt a little less vast when I realized the messages in the book. Our words will outlive us; the marks we chose to leave remain longer than we can imagine. Keep writing :) thanks for reading!