The treasures you share
are snatched from fires,
cleaned and polished
to shine like the sun.

They blind us
to your singed brows,
your blackened fingers,
your reddened face.

We know you've been to hell and back
and salvaged beauty
from the raging flames.

--Elaine Parker Akin


(This original collage, “River of Life,” was created
with torn colors from magazine paper;
highlighted with eyebrow pencil.
I (Carol) created this in 1999 during treatment
for cancer. Photographed for gallery.)