Elements (poem)

I couldn’t

as Master tasked

decide on earth or fire, water or air

which was I

his ask

for our studies

surely test

of his best

pupil I thought

he said

once

.

I said …

.

Earth is of dirt where life begins in leaves to breathe, breads to eat

where to build upon

place our heads until

lay down with centuries and crawl underneath

To begin again

.

Fire lights our way plucked from the sky before end

day’s fade to preserve till return

warms us

But also destroys only to apologize in violent cleanse

feeding earth in its regret

.

Water quenches us, is most of us, fills us to the burst of tear

rinses sins when it falls

along

with us

but drowns when wayward we

and recedes in earth after the washing away

.

Air fills our chests from its sky

lifts wings so we know beauty, hear songs in beautiful sings

carried to dream

but angers sudden and scatters earth to far places

then feeds anew wherever earth it lands

.

I am afraid I may

disappoint

this day

Master

but I cannot decide

as I would surely choose

either

which presented first

for choice of lesson

from your best pupil

as you’ve said

once

I hope

until the next takes it’s place

in choice

none the lesser

all the mighty for the thought

but I think I is earth

as all seem return

there

.

I turned to master only to see he had gone to ground

started to sprout

and it began to rain

as wind fed his leaf to rise

a flame lit my way

in lack of light

and warmed me

until it dawned

on me

dawned new day

//////////////////////////////////////////

Prompt:

THE FOUR ELEMENTS at dVerse Poets from Kim of Writing in North Norfolk

The ancient Greeks believed that the Universe is made up of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water.

Your challenge is to choose one of the basic four elements and explore it.