my own portrait of ashes

i drew a map for myself

with ruin as the only destination

passion became my compass

love the wind

and curiosity a blind sailor

i placed myself on a throne

and named it “destroy me”

my people cheered

every mistake a triumph

In my eyes, a counterfeit sun

and every ray of light

gave birth to its own shadow

i adorned the stage with flames

fortified the pillars with lies

a scream echoed through the walls:

“this will be your masterpiece!”

it was right

in the shadow of destruction, i am an artist

i set the palace ablaze

and the fire devoured me in return

but how beautifully i burned

what a glorious collapse it was

i left behind only ashes

and within them, a version of me still clapping 

for i am

the architect of my own ruin

love, passion, curiosity

the tools that shaped me

and the ones that undid me