flamma immortalis
by
Iyan Igma
You say it’s you, but it is not
It’s the romance that we let die
Like an eternal flame covered over
Whose fuel gives it cause to defy
The inevitable flickering failure
Since there’s no oxygen to burn
And all the heat and memories
Are vain though to shine it does yearn.
We’ve obscured our torchlight love
By the priorities that we placed
Over each other in our lives
That have gradually effaced
The shrine of our affection.
They were for our security
And happiness, at first we claimed
Not noticing the impurity
Of these delusional allegations
That anaesthetized so well the heart.
Now, we are as two off-course planets
Drifting ever so quickly apart
Since our nucleus of orbit,
Namely the sun of our adoration,
Was snuffed out instantly, its mass gone
Like our every sensuous sensation.
Being at opposite ends of the system
How weak is our mutual gravity!
Different stars enchant us;
It’s not you or me; it’s we.
