The fire rises

The fire rises high and high

The death steers nigh and nigh

The mind asks why o why

The body does lie o lie 

The soul free does fly o fly

The hearts yet do cry o cry

The man does o die o die 

Yet he stays alive o alive

To sleep in one yet awake on another 

Sky o sky 

Thy breaths In bin 

There comes thy sin 

And the bless thou gained

Through thy li' o li'

The fire rises high and high

Reviews

[Emunah June.]

This poem is almost rhythmic in nature. I can kind of feel my mind trying to put music to it, which makes it feel like something the reader wants to continue being a part of. I think this captures a beautiful sincerity in a melodic fashion. Well done!!

[Ayesha Faiz]

This has a hypnotic, chant-like quality that really draws the reader in—the repetition creates a rhythm that feels both ancient and urgent. The contrast between death and persistence, fire and flight, gives it a haunting, almost mythical depth. “To sleep in one yet awake on another / Sky o sky” is a standout—beautifully mysterious. It reads like a lament and a resurrection all at once. Well done.

[Neha agrawal]

At first glance, this poem burns with **cyclical despair**—yet beneath the ash, there’s an unexpected **radiance**.