June 2004 (?)

your beautiful, brutal love tracked me down
i bit your hand
but you still held it for me to grasp,
just so i could hold it behind my back,
with a grip uncurling into nothing

burn me up, from the inside out,
to make a clean place for you
the wretched self must surrender in death
to the fire that will bring me to life with the Truth

you're beautiful, dangerous, terrible, lovely
i long for when i'll no longer need
a prick, a push, to send me skidding home
brick walls check my errant steps, and from flat on my back,
my body fears your flames that i see
but my soul craves them just the same

burn me up, from the inside out,
to make a clean place for you
the wretched self must surrender in death
to the fire that will bring me to life with the Truth

burn me up, leaving behind
a vacuum so desperate
there's a rush of the Spirit, consuming.
Spirit, spill out of these broken fingers
Helper, teach an unhelpful tongue
You discipline the one you love

burn me up, from the inside out,
to make a clean place for you
brand me with your lovely name
bid me break from myself for you
for the wretched self must surrender in death
to the fire that will bring me to live in the Truth