Twelve

Freddy Mercury's face on fire - a sight I never thought I'd see,
 
His eyes, shadowed in the Queen poster, blazing back at me,
 
Twelve years ago you gave this to me, rolled up under your arm,
 
A gift from a dear friend, a gesture with no alarm,
 
I pinned it to my wall right above my bed,
 
And remember seeing, in the streetlights, the glare from Freddy's head,
 
Twelve years later here I am, with a can of kerosene and a Bic,
 
Thinking of all the hurt you've done, my memories make me sick,
 
For twelve years I carried this poster from college apartment to shitty house,
 
From my childhood home it was followed me, to now die in a fiery shouse,
 
For twelve years I was a fool to think of you as a friend,
 
Twelve hours away to live anew has shown me some stories won't easily end,
 
No matter how far you drive or how much you talk,
 
No matter how much you cry or curse or who else you fuck,
 
I will always remember Freddy's eyes, glaring in the streetlight and blazing from the flames,
 
I will remember the sex and the yelling and all the mind games,
 
All the late night walks and cigarettes and fights we never wanted to mend,
 
And I know now that despite these flames, those damned twelve years will never end.