Burning/ The Fire Of London

• Tessa Cliff, Grade 10
• Poetry
• 2018

Tongues of bright light, glowing take flight
Creeping and crawling then buildings ignite
Houses burn bright in the darkness of night
London is falling, the sight is appalling
The living and dead reunite

A pure white sheet; the ash coats the street
There's nowhere to run now the city's been beat
The people retreat with flames at their feet
Darkness and terror, they burn for his error
They soon will submit to defeat

Then on this date, the flames are too great
Drowning in fire, escape? It's too late!
The blaze won't abate, for Death they await
London is burning, the clock hands are turning
The people surrender to fate