All Apologies # 006

I am sorry.
I’ll join you in a moment.
I got distracted here
by the fire.
It’s rare we use it, and
the flames require a certain amount of tending
to survive.

If I leave the fireplace alone
for too long
letting the heart of the heat
starve too long
we may lose this delicious warmth
and anyway
the licking flames hypnotize
pull you in
– or me, anyway.
I found myself lost in their primal delights
and lost all thoughts of anything else.

It is rare you are off my mind
and I hope you understand
it is only under these special circumstances
that I consider being warmed by anything
but your touch.
But in these isolated instants
please forgive me
if I long to be burned by another.