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The Moth and the Flame

A Love Story
A moth flying in black darkness
  Found a yellow flame flickering
    over a red candlestick
      On a brass plate
        Bright in the darkness
    And the moth was pleased
            At the beauty of it
              And flew around it
                Admiringly
    And the moth fell in love
      With the flame.

A moth might love a flame
  But how shall they join their souls, silly moth?
    Asked the flame.
      Very carefully
        Said the moth
          But it can be done
            If we have love
        The Power of Love
                We will be victorious
                  Over the dark dangers
                    As your light illuminates
                      The Darkness
We could never be happy, said the flame,
  for we differ so
    We will rejoice in our differences, said the moth
      You will be you and I will be me
        And we will dance
          Together always
            On the wings and flames
              Of Our Love
It is my nature to fly, said the moth
  Up Down Left Right Fore and Aft
    Afloat in your light and warmth
      Close but not too close
        Together but in our own ways
          Free
I must possess you, said the moth
  Yes, you may, said the Flame
    And so of course they were married

On their wedding night the moth danced
  around the flame
    And the flame flickered magnificently
      And they were quite happy together
        Through many dark nights.
          They danced
            In Happiness
              Supreme.

I love you, said the moth.
  Come Closer, said the flame
    I love you said the moth, coming closer
      I only want to help you, said the flame
        Glowing, warmer, flickering brightly,
          eagerly
            As the moth approached.
I must have you inside me, said the flame
  Singing a sweet song
    A siren song
      Of destruction
        All of you, sang the flame
          Consume you
            All of you
              In a yummy moment of glory.
I am pretty
  You want me
    You love me
      Come to me
        I will be yours
          I will be all that you want
            Touch me
              Feel me
                Come inside me
                  Explode all your hot passion
                    All of you inside me
                      I know you want that
                        You know it, too.

If you really love me you will do it,
  said the flame, lustfully.

I have waited long enough, said the flame
  While you dance about me
    Up Down Left Right Fore and Aft
      You have no center
        No wick
          No candlestick
            So you must join me
              In mine
                You must
                  You must
                    Do it now.
The day of reckoning has come, said the Flame
  Touch me
    Join me
      Enter me
        And you will be filled with joy.

Too hot, said the moth
  I would be consumed
    You don't love me, said the flame
      Go away.

Come to me now, said the flame,
  come and touch me deeply
    It is for your own good
      It is time
        You have flown free long enough
          It is time for you to prove your love
            Your oft stated love
              And joined with me
                In my way
                  The True Way
                    Now.
                      Or
                        I will burn for you
                          No more.
                            Nevermore.
                              Done.

So the moth flew into the center of the flame
  in a glorious moment of love
    and became a flame himself
      flaring and bursting and crackling
        like a firework rocket
          And burned to a cinder
            Small
              Black as coal
                Dead.

Mmmm... That was good, said the flame,
  flickering brightly.

by Bert Byfield

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