A Fire Burns

' A Fire Burns', 30"x24" oil on canvas

I had no intention of writing a post like this. Since February is approaching, I could have put together a post about love and how it relates to art. I've already expounded on black art in a previous post. But after I finished my latest piece, "A Fire Burns", I felt a burning (pun intended) need to take off in another direction.

What does it mean when people say there's a fire within? What does it mean when people say they're on fire? The short answer is motivation-a burning desire. Even Jeremiah said it -"But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." - Jer. 20:9 kjv . Finnish poet Edith Södergram said that "inner fire is the most important thing mankind possesses."

So, do you know what it means to have a fire inside you? I do; it's why I've written four posts in one month, it's why I painted this piece, and it's why I wrote the poem:

Inside of me,

A fire burns.

A river runs deep,

My soul yearns.

Inside of me,

There is a hunger.

Gnawing and gnashing,

Lightning and thunder,

My heart longs for a better way;

Fighting, struggling for a brighter day.

Inside of me,

Burns a fire.

Consuming my mind,

As the flames dance higher.

The river runs deep,

Water and rain.

Washing away the hurt and pain.

For I know in my heart,

There is a better way,

Longing, yearning,

For a brighter day.

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

My burning passion is art. It's that passion that led me where I am in life right now. As I said, I had no intention of writing this post today; my passion led me here. Passion has me burning inside; burning so hot I'm about to burst into flame like the freakin' Human Torch.

The Human Torch, Marvel Comics. Art by Jack Kirby

I worked for a short time as an art teacher; it was an unfulfilling experience. I didn't have a classroom of my own; I was stuck with a cart I had to push around from room to room with nothing but this raggedy cart in which to store my supplies, papers, and etc. I was exposed to the elements during the winter months with my papers blowing off of this cart in the wind and rain with kids laughing and other teachers shaking their heads. I received little to no support from the school administrators. Getting art supplies for the students (who cared less about art) was like pulling teeth. The whole time I was longing to create art on my own, for myself, instead of dealing with all that crap. When I left, they thought I grew a third eye; they couldn't understand why I decided to throw away such a 'promising' career.

I don't mean any disrespect to teachers and educators; my mother was a teacher for many years. But for me, my passion has always been to create. So in a way, I suppose this is an appropriate love post, after all. Love and passion for art. For the desire to create.

So if you have the desire to really do something worthwhile in life, I urge you to do it. Find a way and get it done; Trust me, you won't be happy with yourself until you do.

I didn't mean to turn this into a long rant but I really couldn't help it. After all, inside of me, a fire burns.