he started a fire in their circular hewed metal firepit 

she adored its cutouts the stars and crescent moons she had to have it

he threw everything he stacked over months into the fire

the fire ragedwas ravenous

it devoured everything he threw into it

he threw his clothes into it

then standing naked beside it the flame faltered

the slenderstick coals glowered  

they subsided

                         by alchemy of fire they collapsed into fine grey ash

he plunged his hands into the ash to find hot spots  he disturbed themscattered themaerated them  he tried to give them another chance

but without fuel

they died

he stood upright unbent his back

he did everything he could

                                                               all things die

2111,  Sunday,  30  9. 18