Flame

A Bedouin sits by his fire
Who am I? he asks the embers
Touch me and find out, comes the answer

The man turns around and says to his camel
I have been out here too long –
I am having a conversation with a pile of burning dung…

The camel blinks stupidly;
no one can tell what a camel is thinking
The Bedouin shrugs and turns back to his fire
Truly, If I touch you, I will know who I am?

No, cracks the fire. But you will know two things…
Curious, the man asks – what two things?
You will know pain and you will know you are not pain

How stupid, grumbles the man
Indeed, says the fire
You have been confused for a long time.

~Grace Gibson