it started as a spark,

a little voice,

tickling your ear

whispering, inspiring

then a snowball

rolling, larger, larger, rolling,

roaring: a fire

and the poet in his mind confided in himself

"My opinion is worth something."

Up the mountain it climbed

then an explosion

red hot flames, falling, flowing

The poet who never doubted roared to the world

"My opinion matters."

never a doubt.

The world belched, the world grunted

it sneered, roared, cackled

the world does not have ears

abruptly the wind blew and the rain poured

the fire slowly simmered

The poet closed his eyes and whispered.

"The world does not see me,

my words are nothing."

and the fire died.