Fire or Self Portrait | Deborah Higham Wood | TEDxOgden

I’m Debbie wood and this poem is called

I’m Debbie wood and this poem is called fire or a self-portrait I woke to the

fire or a self-portrait I woke to the

fire or a self-portrait I woke to the feel of your breath stroking me from a

feel of your breath stroking me from a

feel of your breath stroking me from a quiet slumber Iowa’s warm and dreaming

quiet slumber Iowa’s warm and dreaming

quiet slumber Iowa’s warm and dreaming content to not dance not leap not rage

content to not dance not leap not rage

content to not dance not leap not rage but it’s overwhelming now this desire to

but it’s overwhelming now this desire to

but it’s overwhelming now this desire to consume and I know how this ends

so I’ll dance for you but when my

so I’ll dance for you but when my laughter becomes a hiss when my song

laughter becomes a hiss when my song

laughter becomes a hiss when my song becomes a roar when I watch as your eyes

becomes a roar when I watch as your eyes

becomes a roar when I watch as your eyes filled with silent tear it will only

filled with silent tear it will only

filled with silent tear it will only fuel me more don’t look at me that way I

wanted to be like water I wanted to give

wanted to be like water I wanted to give life I wanted my roar to come trickle I

life I wanted my roar to come trickle I

life I wanted my roar to come trickle I want to be contained and I swear if I

want to be contained and I swear if I

want to be contained and I swear if I were water I would take any shape you

were water I would take any shape you

were water I would take any shape you want me to but no don’t you know that I

want me to but no don’t you know that I

want me to but no don’t you know that I was born without rhythm that I danced to

was born without rhythm that I danced to

was born without rhythm that I danced to songs that only I can hear don’t you

songs that only I can hear don’t you

songs that only I can hear don’t you know that my warmth is dangerous the

know that my warmth is dangerous the

know that my warmth is dangerous the preamble to destruction that I was born

preamble to destruction that I was born

preamble to destruction that I was born to take and take and take and take that

to take and take and take and take that

to take and take and take and take that I will take the very breath of you wrap

I will take the very breath of you wrap

I will take the very breath of you wrap my arms around your flowers and your

my arms around your flowers and your

my arms around your flowers and your trees and I will take them into me and I

trees and I will take them into me and I

trees and I will take them into me and I will take and take and take and take

will take and take and take and take

will take and take and take and take until there is nothing left of you or me

until there is nothing left of you or me

until there is nothing left of you or me and I will ask are you warm enough yet

and I will ask are you warm enough yet

and I will ask are you warm enough yet thank you