what it means
is firewood
in certain parts
of the world
or maybe even a cigarette
something that burns
something that is meant to burn

i look at myself in the mirror
and i have to wonder
was i meant to burn?
i have a body
as all other beings do
not a stellar body
by any means
but it serves its purpose

i have a face
that smiles, laughs
sometimes tears
even roll down it
i'm not ashamed to say
and eyes that can light up
when excited or surprised
and intensify a bit perhaps
when angry i suppose
i'm only human

lips that speak
sometimes saying things
before thinking
i am very familiar
with the taste of foot
but they also make
me proud sometimes
when i stick up for things
like my right to
open my lips
and speak my mind

inside me
i feel the beating
the heart that guides me
serves as my muse
fuels the engine
that is my passion
that makes me draw
paint, write...
creating little pieces of me
all around
little glimpses into my soul

a soul that was created
and put here on this planet
to live and breathe and dance
and sing and fly and sail
and take in so much
and learn everything i can
like how to treat people
with kindness and respect
a lesson learned long ago
that has served me well

and i look at myself
and what i see
and i go out in the world
and i look at others
and i see it too
all the possibities!
all the beauty
that can come forth from
the human mind

i don't believe i was meant to burn
i don't think i look like a cigarette
or a log for the fire
and yet...people call me this
as if to say
the only thing
that i can possibly be good for
is to go up in flames
they don't even know me
or this smile
or these eyes
or these lips
or this heart
or this soul

it's a good soul
a soul that doesn't like hate
or killing or any act done
with such malicious intent
a soul that likes gentle breezes
the sunrise in the morning
the sunset at night
flowers, trees , grass, sky
the rippling waters
and the roaring waves

so you may call me that word
in what apparently passes for wisdom
or as humor among those
who dwell behind walls
but know this
i will not burn
today, tomorrow or forever
i will shine!