waking up

I find myself

standing here

in a circle of fire

flames

all around me

licking my flesh

like a horse whip

and branding me for life

all I can do

is scream and scream

hoping that someone

will hear me above

the loud crackle of the fire

is there no way out

before the flames engulf me?

am I to be left here

to die a slow and painful death?

suddenly, I realize

that I am not alone

there are others

each surrounded by their own

circle of fire

and their screams, like my own,

go unanswered

faint from the heat

I fall to my knees

and decide to pray

man may not hear my screams

but God can hear the whispers

of my soul

as I pray

I feel as if a blanket

has been laid over me

protecting me from the flames

the silence that ensues

startles me

and I look up to see

the last flicker of fire

disappear

leaving a ring

of scorched earth

smoldering around me

stepping forward

fear and uncertainty grip me

and the flames re-ignite

blocking my path once again

finally, I understand

that the flames spring

from within me

only complete trust in Him

will extinguish them forever

from that moment on

I shall be free