FIERCE
By Ian McCallum

I like the word, fierce –
the way it aligns itself with
nakedness and solitude:
a fierce nakedness ...
a fierce solitude ...
And I like the way it holds
the word, fire.

I like the word, fire –
the way it ignites
the cutting edge of poetry
refusing to be nothing less than
a fiery edge …
a fiery tongue ...
And I like the way it is linked
to the word, wildness.

I like the word, wild –
how it weaves its way
between yes and no,
how it announces itself as
a wild anger …
a wild joy …
And I like the way it nurtures
the word, fierce.

I like the word, fierce ...