Sparks

These sparks that the flames Toss up in the sky To dance with the stars Aflame in our eyes Burning and searing Aloft on their own Burning and soaring As never before Have little resistance Once up in the air They fly on the currents That wave in the air They move with the breezes Which fan them along Up, up and away As we follow along Each spark has a lifeline It follows with zest Some quickly descend Some put to the test The magnetic pull Of gravity’s hold (These are the bigger The brazen, the bold) They reach for the zenith A pinnacle far Far up and away As if they’re a star To hold us enthralled With their sizzling flight They strive for the stars While we gaze in the night While straight to the heavens It seems they will go They still have a limit (As everyone knows) Their flame soon burns out They sputter and fade Their ascent is stopped Their climb it is stayed – No matter how strong Or how fierce they may burn Each spark hits a point And then it returns A little chagrined At the course that it flamed A little bit singed Marred now – and changed