Trial by Fire | Poem by 14 year old from Kolkata

The strands of flames dance wildly before you
Its locks entice you to come near
One small pang can burn you through

And introduce you to fear.

Its bright tongues lick and tickle the night sky
It belches spark and coughs up smoke
It emits heat for those who lie
Shivering in forests under the trees of oak.

Many souls are set free by the mercy of fire
Its flames are the gateway to another realm
In another heaven untainted spirits shall retire
In another hell they shall condemn.

Its dazzling flames can hypnotize
Its perils you know not
In it you may find wicked eyes
Ready to strike when you’re caught.

It has a mind of its own
It rages through all it finds
Alone under the lonely sky it shines
To all who come too close, it blinds.

Yet it provides comfort and certainty for those in need
Its holy sacredness signifies life
To all those who sleep in hunger it feeds
It makes nourishment rife.

It resembles the will power residing in the heart of a person
How they keep on going even when all is lost
In the face of situations that worsen
All their limits they had far crossed.

The strands of flames dance wildly before you
Its locks enticing you to come near
One small pang can burn you through

And introduce you to fear.