The Fire Will Come in Waves

by R.L. Summerling

When you go down to the sea you’ll understand

what it is to burn and drown.

A parade of strange lovers will light your way

with beacons of gem-coloured flames.

Oh you’ll burn hard then melt into indigo.

Petals of surf charring your ankles.

Living by the sea turns you wild.

Unconfined by rules of land.

You'll be different when you get here.

The change will start slowly, then all at once.

Not an echo, but something new.

With seaweed pulling on your hair.

Spitting out a mouthful of stars.

On the beach, a threshold between worlds.

Ahead lies silver channels in the sand

which fork into myriad outcomes.

You’ll hesitate, everyone does,

but the way will become clear by the light of the moon.

Past cruelties you’ve suffered will ebb away and

salt air will scrub you clean.

I promise you’ll welcome the pain, everyone does.

This will be a death you can own.

Oh you’ll see when you go under,

in that empire of foam,

through that door between worlds.

You’ll understand when you burn.

R.L. Summerling is a writer from South East London. In her free time she enjoys befriending crows in Nunhead Cemetery. She has stories in Hexagon's MYRIAD, Seize The Press, Bear Creek Gazette and more. You can find her at rlsummerling.com and on Twitter @RLSummerling