Delight to see a harm to touch

A tulip flower, seems in shape, in form,
Lavender would be its color, if by yellow atwain wasn’t torn;
Like petals on stems, does wreath on a wick
When a above a stick of wax a flame does flick:
A flick, flick whose privies of the night does whisk,
A flick, flick, whom to peer of dawn is meek.

None old, none new, constant is its hue,
Astonishes the sight, till dyed is the welkin blue:
Though a touch too close, approach too near,
And last shall thy, a wound, a tear,
A galling pain too deep, an eternal fear,
Which time, TIME!! And only Time does fight to sear.

This flame, delight to see, a harm to touch,
This flame, the deity, the fierce, the symbol of such,
To siege my heart, my eye, my ears though it does sometimes sway.
It burns my skin, and dyes it pink then hazel,
 I burn and burn in pain, till hazel to brown does dangle,
Though off did pace the flame, before brown to darker turn,
Then colors different, does my skin no longer learn.

Pain has no more a cause but still in pain I burn and burn,
Tears have no more a cause, but still in tear I wail and wail;
And like this wax, that with the flame didn’t sail,
My wound, my tear, TIME! TIME! and only Time could sear.

Author's Note

This one night while I was writing one of my short stories with this drive, this passion that comes to me just once in while, light suddenly comes off in the whole neighborhood. And so I light up a candle and just sat with this anger words can’t even describe. But watching that candle light soothed my fury and trickled something in me; how beautiful it was, the relationship it had with the wax, the night, the day just everything about it inspired me. And that was how I wrote “Delight to see a harm to touch”.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

just like a candle, love flickers...it glows, it is warm, it is beautiful, it is deadly to touch...it will burn, yes it will burn...

4th line was a little awkward ..was that "a" supposed to be there?

but overall..a "wick--ed" piece, Betty. had the rhythm of a flickering flame.

[Betty]

Jacob thank you so much for the review. I truly am honored by your kind visit and comment.

[Judy]

The title of this piece drew me to read it. I was completely overtaken by it. Your transfer from the natural of the tulip to the pain is powerful. Your segueing into the flame and the dichotomy is extraordinary. We see light in a multitude of ways - and certainly light - flame - burn - then the final stanza is the clincher. Your expression of pain is profound and how you again use the word burn is powerful.

[SyberRose]

Beautifully penned Betty...I really enjoyed reading the grace of your words...and yes
sometimes we do get too close to the flame of love...closer then we should...Rose:)

[Betty]

What a delight to see you here Rose :) Thank you so much for the visit and for leaving me this kind comment.

[ANTO]

I have often found that some people are like the candle in this piece. Inviting, warm and brightly glowing but get too near and zap!! you will get burned and the next person (if they havent witnessed this negative aspect of the 'candle') lines up for more of the same.
Thought-provoking poem Betty
Well done
X

[Betty]

Thank you so much Anton for your kind review. And yes you're right the candle is definitely one deceiving beauty :)