By The Fire

A sonnet

The flames glinted wildly, their reflection in my eyes

all the laughter and the tears, so much joy in my life

from the love and the loss, to the beauty of my child

sometimes mellow, sometimes sad, and yet often it was wild

When the flames began to settle, my future found its way

in the beauty of her love, we had forever and a day

and another was still waiting, we lived it to the full

never parted for a moment, always laughter, never dull

The flames flickered gently, it was dusk, no longer dawn

in my peace I could reflect, my face was tired and so worn

as I came to see my past, with a smile behind my eyes

all the joy my life had brought, sometimes tears fell from my eyes

Then the flames no longer flickered, they had faded into ash

yet forever in my memory, I had lived once in the past

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Sutcliffe

Author's Note

Any feedback welcome