I will not sleep beneath the breath
Of ice, that freezes. “Wait for death”
It soothes, as though that is the goal
That waits my writhing, striving soul.
“I’ll set this soul ablaze!” I cry,
“And soar to cinders through the sky!
I’d rather burn to ashen dust
Than die within this frozen crust
Of apathy.” To pierce the night…
My purpose is to shine, to fight!
And not that I should safely stand,
Unchallenged, in this tundra-land.
Not so! This world will burn along
With me, and learn to sing my song
Of light. And should the fire die,
At least I will have lit the sky.

– s. Clark