In honor of Banned Books Week, we give you a poem about book burning. For more information about the freedom to read, you can check out the current issue of READ Magazine.

FIRE
Poem by Lydia Warters, Grade 8

I am the fire
Crackling heat burning strongly
As I take in paper
I am the heat
Warming
The house of Mystery
For I am the fire

I feel sorry
As I eat up books
Burning the amazing world of a story
I will take away its magic words
Page by page
A book never read again
I am sorry for I am the fire

I see the words
In the pages of a book
Melting away
A path of black smoke
Trails silently behind me
Two girls stand deep in thought
They speak no words
I burn on
For I am the fire

I hear the crackling pop
Of myself
As I burn on
The silent noise
Of a page turning
In the last book remaining
I hear for I am the fire

I wish the best
For the house
In which
I once so strongly burned
I will soon be gone
So
I hope for the best
For everyone
I wish this for I was the fire