Last night I finally read the first issue of The Sandman: Overture and was immersed again in Neil Gaiman’s words. I was reminded of a beautiful poem, “Words of Fire”, recently released as a print for charity at http://neverwear.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=191 . I ordered it just now and felt compelled to share it. You can also listen to Neil recite it at http://neil-gaiman.tumblr.com/post/21476192465/from-the-evening-with-neil-and-amanda-cd-from-the .
I will write in words of fire.
I will write them on your skin.
I will write about desire.
Write beginnings, write of sin.
You’re the book I love the best,
your skin only holds my truth,
you will be a palimpsest
lines of age rewriting youth.
You will not burn upon the pyre.
Or be buried on the shelf.
You’re my letter to desire:
And you’ll never read yourself
I will trace each word and comma
As the final dusk descends,
You’re my tale of dreams and drama,
Let us find out how it ends.
-Neil Gaiman