In A House Of Fire

Away from the scorched sky
In the entrails of this cave
Even the darkness is red
Jewels fade into bloodless flowers
And the strange stench
Of fathom-deep places and fear.

Tensing a calloused hand
The senses untouched
Tongue cleft and parched
Utters cursed penitence
For a cloudburst.

The acrid soil, I spill
The split seed tumbles yellow
Brittle dust scratches
Retinal fireflashes
Scours the sad skin
Withering and vacant