Fire And Salt

They call to me the Harbingers:

the ashes
the frost
the light
the fire

they no longer astound me
I wear them all

my skin
my tongue
my hair
my soul

know intimately
this moment
as the light shatters all

...leaves a sticky residue

They call to me the Bestowers:

lovers
friends
family
enemies

they no longer astound me
I wear them all

like another skin
sometimes grasping
sometimes denying
my heart of hearts

they stick to me
like the scent of green papayas
like the taste of honey

...I wear them all

They call to me the Destroyers:

death
illness
fear

they no longer astound me
I wear them all

they wind around my heart and
like the cage without the jungle
bring me to my knees
loosen and pry my grip
my dreams of reality
disintegrate
one by one

and my eyes
react to this blinding light

love falls

the taste of tears
mingles
with the ashes and the frost

and the fire light is dim now
and the fire is burning out

as the salt consumes
All.