The thing about smouldering

Its warmth is addictive -
the hint that perhaps  
with a stir and a stoke  
and a soft sigh of breath  
it could flare to new life  
blazing passion-brief heat  
  
But    
it demands tears for kindling  
a beating heart for fuel  
and will burn through your soul    
fast as oxygen  
   
One can also    
choose to leave it  
Lay the poker down  
and refuse to feed it  
Hold tight to the memory    
of its heat and light  
But welcome the relief    
of finally    
     letting it    
             fade  
   
                    to ash