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004 (8/14/03) The Keeper of My Flame

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Poetry from 2000-2003

 

The Keeper of My Flame

by Elizabeth Van Cleve (August 14, 2003)

 

She ran back

sought the familiar

returned to sleeping

in her same old, same old

bed

 

Her emerald eyes had told me

the light was on

but who fanned her flames

when their glow had warmed me?

 

Another stood in need

I stepped away

and helped him for a time

but I came back

 

Sparks took flame and I

came back expecting

to pick up where we left off

and feel her warmth again

 

The flames were out

the fire dead

Where had they lived

Inside my head?

 

It was her light, I claimed it was

But had I gazed into a mirror

not a window

in those clear eyes?

 

I gave a man a fish and fed him for a day

I taught a man to fish and fed him for a lifetime

 

I told her about the need for fuel

how to fan her flames

Was it too much work for her

to seek the light each day?

 

I came back, the light was out

she had gone to sleep

I chose not to be the keeper of her flame

nor to have her snuff mine out

 

Author's Notes/Comments: 

This poem's voice is male.  It's about a man who thinks he's inspired a woman to seek God's ways and turn her life around for the better.  He later learns when he steps away for a short time, what he thought was her own testimony was actually her living off of his.  She's infatuated with his enthusiasm.  When he's not there, she resorts to what's she's always been like.  In realizing this, he has the choice of starting all over, knowing her limitations. When he thinks about it, he decides against it. It means possibly sacrificing too much of himself.

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last updated 22 January 2014 - 1:43pm
©14 August 2003 - 7:27pm — classicliz
21 January 2014 - 12:12pm — a.griffiths57
a.griffiths57's picture

    I think she was just

 

 

I think she was just infatuated by him and not his beliefs. Can they be a couple when their interests are so different; no he feels he cannot take that chance or the chance of losing his beliefs. A chanllenging write about this couple, a good write this poem and a good read. The poem leaves the reader with the impression of both of them being to fearful for their ways of life, to need to be a couple. Your left hoping they can see a way through it all.

 

 

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