THE ICE CUBE AND THE MATCH

From the ice cube’s perspective

the match lights so fast and so often

it might as well be the eternal flame

from some house of worship.

But seriously, to the ice cube,

the match has a curiously single-minded purpose-

all it seems to want to do is get lit and unlit.

From the match’s perspective

the ice cube is always cold to the touch

and takes too long to melt

so the match is content to sear the ice cube

and allow itself to be extinguished

without worrying about the ice cube’s burn rate.