“
Bonfire of Broken Hearts by Stewart Stafford
A shivering man craving warmth,
Mustn't let the fire consume him,
Despite temptation heat flares,
In arousal-seared microseconds.
Lured in with passion's promise,
A stray spark or lick of flame is all
Love ignites into walking fireball—
Devotion's immolation sacrifice.
On a cracked cardiac bonfire,
Toughened muscles take time to burn,
An atrophied, coarse chest slump,
Once burned it is charcoal brittle.
In the hall of mirrors' reflection,
ICU, but do you see any of me?
No salve - a scorched psyche set free.
© 2026, Stewart Stafford. All rights reserved.
”
”