I.

my heart blazes and snarls in the inferno of my chest, all-consuming and unstoppable

II.

you tell me that it is ugly and gnarled in the heat of an unnatural flame, that it should be covered, hidden

from the world and locked away, lest its charred wings spread too far

III.

i tell you that fire kindles regardless, that in its smothering you destroy the birthplace of phoenixes, that the

beauty of the sun is in its savagery and that it will rise again and again and again

IV.

hear my voice, enemy of prometheus, hear it howling from the ruins of my chest, smouldering with the cold

defiance of the stars and the knowledge that your foundations are built on the bones of dragons

V.

‘i burn. i burn. i burn.’