With fires all around us I woke up yesterday morning before dawn with this in my head and so I wrote it down. It's about the flame of life.

Scott Leonard
Surrounded by firestorm
Sebastopol, California
September 11, 2020


While Your Flame Still Burns

Born of our Sun
This spark of life
Your flame

Burning ever ready, from the day you're born until the moment you pass
Fire that can warm the heart
Forging steal and frameworks,
and yet at times can burn those around you
Be mindful with your precious flame

Born of our Sun
This spark of life
Your flame

And when the flame has passed 
Who did warm their hands at your campfire?
Toast yummy marshmallows with the heat you provided?
How many souls did enjoy your light and glow?
Your flame of extraordinary fireside chats
Oh flame of flames did you provide those in your orbit with warmth and shelter from the cold?

Born of this Sun
This spark of life
Your flame

How long will you burn my dearest special fire?
For this flame does not last forever, 
Yes, your story can continue on with the campfires and circles that still remain behind.
And yes, the heat can still be felt even after your flame is gone.
Your charcoal and ash will remain behind but it too will perish
Ashes to dust, and to particulars that then blow across our horizons.

From the Sun
This spark of life
Your flame

How will your flame burn, while your flame still burns?

---

Your Flame
Original text/poetry by Scott Leonard
Song lyrics/music RUDA

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKHXtuAgkOM/?igshid=zh6xdp85f56

Sun birthed
Life sparked
Your flame

Eternal or passing
Heart warming
Framing forging
Strong steelings

Burn harmless
Turn radiantly
Precious sourcerous
Magic mindfully

Sun birthed
Life sparked
Your flame

Camped fire mellow
Warmed hands free
Toasted 'mallows
Afterglow memo-ree

Countless souls
Shadows and sound
Chattering round
Your ring of coals

Sun birthed
Life sparked
Your flame

Lost hers, last his
Soular cycler
Roar to ember
Fade to ashes

Felt, remembered
Perished particles
Gone, upwinded
Horizon tale sails

From the Sun
Spark of life
Your flame

I wonder will you vent 
That flame
It burning 'til you went
And came

Sun birthed
Life sparked
Your flame

Your Flame

Gene Stephan Ruda