one doesn't know the fire till it burns

one doesn't know the fire till it burns
surrounded by the lapping flaming sea
relief's not found no matter where he turns

like stiff rejection of a love who spurns
won't give a second chance though hard you plea
one doesn't know the fire till it burns

a lover's loss, so maddening it churns
yet cannot sentence one as death's decree
relief's not found no matter where he turns

to find the one he's lost for whom he yearns
the greatest fire is finality
one doesn't know the fire till it burns

he can't reverse no matter what he earns
and cannot make one be who cannot be
relief's not found no matter where he turns

a brother left and never will return
and from the scalding one can never flee
one doesn't know the fire till it burns
relief's not found no matter where he turns

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos