Kerosene

The kerosene lamp never requested to be set aflame

Once hanging in solitude, tranquil in abandonment

Within her glass cage, distant enough to be untouched yet close enough to see all

Developments into electricity and the lack thereof

In her surroundings

In walks a brazen child

Disrupting the still air, careless with matchsticks

Igniting

Engulfing from within,

Blazing firestorm that illuminates the cave

Revealing cracks, cobwebs

Fragile structures of decayed wood

Unfinished mineshaft, abandoned

Deemed unworthy of effort, lacking gold

Now enveloped in flickering yellow

Radiant heat, temporary glory

Feeding on hardened remaining oil,

Taking in the sight she unseen in centuries

Until she breathes, blinks

Gasps, eyes never to open again

Strangled, suffocated

Sulphur diffuses

Blanket of darkness

Wooden creek

Child screams

Lamp shakes

Glass breaks