Fire

I scream out loud, no air left. 

My lungs are fire without breath.

I see a world full of confusion, 

anger, violence, false perception.

Or is it me? Am I the one 

who’s clouded, swayed by my emotion?

The ground beneath me feels like water. 

People close have become strangers.

Day and night have grown together.

Spring and summer now look like winters.

I scream out loud, no air left. 

My lungs are fire without breath.

Everywhere a false veneer, 

all around me nothing’s clear.

The little things I took as true, 

stubborn anchors fixed my view, 

now come as memories of regret, 

not allowing me to forget.

I scream out loud, no air left. 

My lungs are fire without breath.

My limbs once strong have lost their vigor. 

The little things now now make me sadder.

I scream out loud, no words left. 

My heart aflame though not bereft. 

No longer will my past restrain, 

though my memories will still remain.

Instead, I take a different course.

I won’t be curbed by bit and bridle, 

no longer move like a mindless horse,

but neither will I just stay idle.  

I scream out loud, no words left. 

My heart aflame though not bereft. 

The past will no longer restrain. 

It will inform, but I can change – 

to become different, though the same,

to choose to live up to my name.

I see a world full of freedom, 

power and peace in self-reflection.

God, I seek to have Your shelter, 

to heed the counsel that You offer.

To exchange my screams for something grander – 

to sing with joy as a believer. 

I seek to sing rather than scream

I seek to live rather than dream

I seek to sing rather than scream

I seek to live rather than dream

I seek to sing