Memories Poem by Elizabeth Russell

The child’s eyes reflect the firelight,
Liquid eyes mirror the dancing flames.
She stares trancelike no longer thinking.
The windows of her soul closed
By the very act of seeing
She parries against thoughts which are drifting
Inexorably towards the door in her mind
Craving to be let out, dusted off –
Inspected

The girl reaches out for the flame,
Holding her hand closer, and closer still
Feeling the pain
Needing to make the pain in her hand bigger
Than the pain in her heart
To give her surcease
From memories that yearn to be free
Memories she knows that will shackle her forever