He walked toward her br a fire-stick in his hand br and spoke softly. br 'This is fire br my gift to you. br br It is safety from wild animals; br heat for your food; br br romance for your life; br br Igniter of Passion; br The Secret Furnace br which fuels the Sun; br the Starry Blanket br which covers the night; br br the Milky Way which burns br hot-blue. br br The Heart's Flame br is Cobalt Fire too. br br She touched his fire-stick br and felt the burn. br br He grabbed her singed hand br and kissed it br br saying: br Fire too br burns br human things; br br Passion too br sears souls. br br 'But how, ' she said, br 'shall I know fire which heals br from Stinging Fire which br burns my soul? ' br br 'How can I be sure my fire br is safe fire, br br that all my passions br are healing flames br and not destructive ones? ' br br He, said 'Fire is like touch; br go close enough to feel the warmth br but don't press too much br or the skin recoils. br br Fire is like two kissing lips; br go close enough to feel the heat br but pressure too much br you chip the teeth. br br Fire is like making love; br it can sweep you away br but be sure Fire's Orbit br brings you back br ensuring sure you don't get too close to the burning Sun. br br When young be the bubble-bee sampling nectar, br not the moth obsessed with flames. br br Use fires' heat br but regard more its light; br br for Fire is both; br heat is good br light is knighted. br br Fire correctly lit br is a balm of both br and allows Love and Lovers br to survive.