On Fire

My body is burning, dissipating and diffusing into the elements from which it was formed, offered in the fire of flame, separated into that which rises and that which remains. That which remains, remains. That which rises, rises.

My heart is burning, dissipating and diffusing into the elements from which it was formed, offered in the fire of longing, separated into that which rises and that which remains. Fulfilled desires remain. Passion rises.

My mind is burning, dissipating and diffusing into the elements from which it was formed, offered in the fire of regard, separated into that which rises and that which remains. Gathered knowledge remains. Questions rise.

My spirit is burning, dissipating and diffusing into the elements from which it was formed, offered in the fire of judgement, separated into that which rises and that which remains. Garnered virtues remain. Wildness rises.

My breath is burning, dissipating and diffusing into the elements from which it was formed, offered in the fire of speech, separated into that which rises and that which remains. Spoken words remain. Confusion rises.

My name is burning, dissipating and diffusing into the elements from which it was formed, offered in the fire or remembrance, separated into that which rises and that which remains. Reputation remains. Definition rises.

My karma is burning, dissipating and diffusing into the elements from which it was formed, offered in the fire of being, separated into that which rises and that which remains. Fate remains. Fortune rises.

The fire is fueled by the motion of my body, the beating of my heart, the thinking of my mind, the progress of my spirit, the utterance of my breath, the saying of my name, and the pursuit of my karma. The fire is time, and it consumes what time consumes. The smoke is what has not happened.

As I burn longer, the ash heaps higher, but the smoke remains the same. When I am burnt, the ash will remain. My smoke will vanish, having served its purpose.

For now, though, I burn, riding the edge between potential and actual, on fire.

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