Burns When I

There's fire here. Climbs the pine trees.

Wilts the grass. Fells timbers.

Turning the soft sand hard, brittle glass.

There's fire forcing the creatures into dirt holes

With enemies, lovers, and family members.

Fire crouching at the foot of my bed.

Burns toes while I sleep, singes my socks.

Need a clear path to the door but there's fire

Seeping, creeping into the dirty clothes on my floor.

There's smoke here, stains my favorite shirt.

Can't smell it always, smoke's too high up.

Not rain clouds, smoke clouds, storm clouds

Drop flooding fire that can't extinguish,

Can't clean the stains from my shirt.

Only drown the creatures in holes in the dirt.

There's fire that follows me to the bathroom.

Burns when I piss. Turns my yellow teeth black.

And waits in my bed, under the sheets.

Burns when I come. Stains where I sleep.