Inferno

Poem in English, written at Poesiaeuropa 2023

The indignities of the fire
leave one without a name
except Dragon;
except Makaravedra.
What a mane. What an invasion

of Destiny into a little man-tiger’s life.
Do you want to feel the winds against your back
the stars, looking down on you
from such a great intense height?

You are what you are, champion;
you were made for the greatest, bloodless fight.
You were made to step straight into fire
and never quite understand
how to burn up and die.

It’s not just tears, or flames, or light;
it’s ashes to eyelashes,
embers to beautiful, muscular members;
fire to resplendent, surging pride.