I am just another piece of coal
among the flames, witness
consuming desire and shade
lost in the confines of another
bonfire, untimely extinguished
dispassionate to wear and tear
carrying me in grace to ashes,
Late and sordid, staring
and that is I am brief, simple
among these mystical flames
getting pulled through the days
eroding this short thing that I am
lighting the night and its memory
on this eternal fire that I called life…

Solo soy un carbón mas
entre las llamas, testigo
consumiendo anhelo y sombra
perdido en el confín de otra
fogata, extinta a destiempo
sin pasiones al uso y desgaste
que me lleven en gracia a cenizas,
tardío y sórdido, mirada perdida
y es que solo soy corto, sencillo
entre estas místicas llamas
dejándome arrastrar por los días
desgastando esta breve cosa que soy
alumbrando a la noche y su memoria
en este fogón eterno que llamé vida…
Gavriel Navarro© 2012

I am brief is so easy to see at 70 years of age looking back over the blessings that life has given. Looking forward as a young person, it didn’t seem like it would be so brief. There is a lot of energy in a piece of coal.