Eric M. Petit
Breathe Fire into the Night
Do not only that which is good for the body alone but take long and deep drafts
Of that which nourishes the boundless soul; touch and feel and savor the marrow of each moment.
Press fortune for the goodnight kiss of life until fortune presses back with red lips and hot breath.
Push deeply into life and do not sit mild and meekly contented upon its bright edges.
The gift of hot blood is too fine a thing to squander in the dark corners and outer passages
Of this world, but rather, take life into the warmth of your bed and look long and deep into her eyes.
Be afraid of nothing within you but the urge to lie down and sleep away these moments.
Put aside all voices that persuade you to be satisfied with the sallow, little portions
That the world would have you think is enough; instead make a feast of living deeply.
Rise up and lift your cups to the pulsing stars, make a toast in the name of all the human race and
Claim that which is yours by birth for you are the sons and daughters of the growing earth and raging seas;
You are the forerunners of families and nations and peoples long dead and buried and gone
In the bodies of their flesh but you are the spirit by which they lived and loved and pushed.
And for what? That we might trudge along in our sleep and never ask why and never breathe
Fire into the night and never embrace the lightning of moments? That we might softly accept
The sick little, servings of life dealt out by bitter men of small minds and greedy hearts?
Do you think in their moments of passion beneath the roof of night and the thick, rich sun
That they expected any less of us? Grasp hold of your loves and lovers, grasp hold of
Your dreams with both hands and touch them so deeply they cry out in pleasure and strong desire.
Run together upon the sands and warm earth, swim naked in the deep, clear pools
And dance every day of your life in the arms and heart of your truest and deepest love.
Touch souls, dream dreams; sore in your spirits to such places that the small minds would never dare.
Laugh and live and breathe one another deeply; walk close together under sun and stars and moon,
Beneath the falling snow or the pounding rain for no other reason than the sheer joy and beauty of each other.
Make love upon the wet grass and leaves or under towering, tall trees or wherever the fierce passion
Overtakes you and the pleasure and deep love for each other becomes too great to bear.
Do not stay long from each other’s arms and lips and hearts; seek and make your quiet refuge there.
Forget what they told you concerning the meaning of life; they are dry and withered fools.
Rewrite the rules and make your own way but by every means make it richly and deeply together.