Matchstick, matchstick—
one of
two dozen,
torn from your
bed—still
choosing to succor,
paraffin
wax and powdered-
glass-headed,
callously
struck—but
brilliantly bruising:
potassium
chlorate, red
phosphorus, sulfur!
Teach us—how you
sustain-
yet-relinquish;
help us!—we can't
keep this
madness
up—for
too much
longer either.
