Scorpio

Quiet! be still a moment―  
my flesh has caught fire.  
 
The slow, self-righteous simmering from within  
has dominated my body.  
My skin crackles and my hair is singed―  
sharp, acrid taste in the air.  
The fever rises through my blood  
the angry pumping of my heart ignites sparks  
like your instigating eyes  
watching me  
I feel my toenails buckling  
my organs seize up, constricting  
pain wracks me and I shudder  
my shaking bones blacken and crack  
 
YES!  
 
I am engulfed in flames of death.  
See my royal arrogance consume me from within  
I rise up against myself  
and in this moment  
I don't care who I am or what I do.  
 
my skin burns within brighter than rage  
and my whole body disappears  
in the agonizing  
         writhing  
            shrieks of change.  
       all except my eyes--  
            my eyes, do they  
       seem older to you now?  
But now my shrill cries change,  
the chilling wails turn to sobs  
torrents of sweet compassion, fresh and honest as rain  
as snow  
was it my face that hid so long  
behind false smiles and pride?  
      No more.  
See me now, my truth streams forth  
its path shines on my twisted, blistered cheeks.  
 
Look closely. Do I seem different to you now?  
My tears have quieted the flames  
and now smoke whorls up around  
      my broken form―  
           I emerge.  
 
Ash falls away from my pink new skin  
and golden feathers shine through the smoking ruins  
feel the wind on your cheek from the  
      first jubilant breath  
See me step out of the smoking  
                        stinking  
                              smoldering ashes  
my new skin is like porcelain  
tinted soft angel-pink, angel wings  
my delicate bones have restructured  
to hold me more steadily  
my toes flex, and the hard, clear nails shine.  
My cheeks are flushed with youthful blood  
my hair grows back in baby-soft waves  
and everywhere I glisten with blond peach-fuzz.  
Do you see how I smile differently now?  
I am strong. Confident. Bold.  
And now, too, I am sweet with compassion. My lips dance  
with an innocence renewed.  
 
But my eyes shine  
with the Fire  
that burnt me down.