Why?

To Hamra

You saw my flame —
a child you were;
and your fingertips bent to toy with it,
why?
So your fingers burned,
and the flame went out.
It went out, and you went out,
why? why?

Had you left my flame alone, it would have grown,
and you would have warmed yourself by it, or taken light;
and it would have gloried in what it gave you.
But you wanted neither light nor warmth,
why? why?

Had you turned away from it,
the darkness would have rushed upon it;
but you did not turn away
before you had struck it down, and been struck down;
why — O bee that stings and dies,
O woman who kills the one she loves,
why?

You saw my flame,
and you put it out — why?
And you burned, and you wept — why?
And you cursed the darkness and the frost — why?
And you flung the candle far away — why?
And you beat your breast — why?
And it went out and you went out, and it was lost and you were lost,
why? why?

Why?