Stop the fire

Anger consumes your soul--
your eyes, your mind, your heart--
like wildfire does to the forest in the summer.

It starts slow:
licking, creeping, affecting
each and every leaf in the forest;
burning, heating, taking.

I will not be the wind.
I will not stoke the embers of the fire
that is the anger in your heart.
I will not make it more destructive
or more dangerous because it already is.

I will not be the water.
I refuse to douse your anger
with any of my emotions.

I will let your anger be defeated
not by the wind, not by water
not by my words or emotions
but by your own volition. Your conscience.

I will not stoop down,
and engage you in your petty ways.
Rather, I look up to the sky.
Lord, please stop the fire.