“Don’t play with Fire” they told me

I was high

off the fumes

of pain

as the smoke

drifted up

from my burning flesh

mesmerized

by the way

my skin

shimmered crimson red

and then blackened

like the sky.

it became

an intoxicating

game

of rhythmic

pleasure

the hovering of

bliss

and numbness

and blistering pain.

but then

I met you

(and suddenly

the only flame

I needed

was you).