Night Devours Flame

Inspired by the story of The Little Match Girl 

Toes curl below ragged skirts,
her eager eyes light with meager heat,
a single match.
Visions of food, of shelter, of home
all she wants
diners devour meat
girl devours sight
night devours flame.

Children face guns, crowd camps, brave seas.
They wash up on our shores
matted,
bloodied,
filthy with their own hopes.
They strike the match,
flame never comes.

I fight to place the words on screen
delete the syllables, they seem
inadequate.
I could go to them.
I could leave my couch but for the fear
that I will see their eyes.

The Matchstick Girl died in that snow
rags her shroud
the corpse of fire her companion.
Families laughed around her
brick walls between her
and them.
They shut her out.

we do the same.
there is no change in the world.
PROGRESS we shout PROGRESS
the stars have no answer
THE PAST IS DEAD
but we are the same.

stand up
stop hate
go help

It’s all I have in this world
where children still die when they could be saved
if we chose to be moved.