E). When The Fire Froze

When The Fire Froze
(sonnet)

By the time you wanted me I did not
love you anymore, though the love your touch
had sparked had raged for years. You don't know what
had fossilised in glaciers; how much

shone clear when the fire froze. Ice-edged insight
lazered deep into your mind, showing me
how to force open your heart. This key light
of truth could cast a cold shadow soul free

to seduce you, reduce you to pure need;
to take you in until I became your
host and your body was compelled to feed
on mine alone. But I won't use it, for

your perfect hot-housed love would bloom with no
innate sweetness, having been forced for show.

*****
c. Copyright By Anjali Paul