i was careful at first,
flicking the lighter 
watching the flame go 
on and off, on and off
then it was leaves,
and small little fires
little flames i could erase
put out with the flick of a finger
stamp of a foot,
but suddenly,
everything was burning,
everything blazing hot and red
and orange and angry
and i am standing in the middle. 
surrounded.
if only i hadn't
been playing with fire.