only a sunset

 

as part of a poetry anthology for University of Liverpool School of the Arts 

only a sunset

the sky screamed 

in pain

as the festering smoke 

blistered her skin and 

littered ash amidst her clouds.

the heat was swelling her 

tongue, the smog clogging her 

throat as she 

begged

for nightfall and its calm

but her cries were

hushed. 

LISTEN, she wanted to shout,

LOOK.

but as the dancing flames 

flickered,

sparks spat their shockwaves 

into the crackling air until 

slowly

the fire melted

into the horizon

drowned

at last 

it was only a sunset

but that dusk,

i heard the sky yelling

for the world to

stop

burning