Heart on Fire

Fire of truth:

burn my brazen heart to ash,

until nothing remains.

Ribs forced open,

my beating heart exposed —

flame growing hotter.

I can’t run. I can’t turn away.

There is no hope of escape,

from this being human.

I must stand still

and be burned alive

in the fire of truth.

And out of the ash,

not a heart —

but something untouchable — is born.