Amongst The Embers

They burn for all, the embers
Of gone and withered youth
Crackling, spitting
Scorching all
Naivity of the perceived truth

And left amongst the ashes
Are just black ashes, then
some more
And, on occasion
One small diamond
To be found within the core

And be praised, to find this
One small thing
Reward for life
In burn and singe
For only those with brightest
flame
Who made home in a fiery
star
Who stared into infernos
blaze 
Regardless, walked with
charcoal face

Stinging eyes to setting sun
Whilst coughing up
A blackened lung
Might proudly stake
A diamond claim
Within the soot of
Their own 
Mortal pain

M P 23/4)21