The Beginning At Last

Inner Mounting Flames

—

by

Kevin
in ,

I am the collateral damage

Just a stone within your road

The punchline to your joke

Another beast to bear the load

Ignorant and blissful

Or so you’d have us think

At the Well of Fools you’re kneeling

As you take another drink

Clearer than a crystal

And sharper than a knife

You think we cannot see it

How you sap the joy from life

But rest assured, I promise

We all know your little games

And slowly rage is building

Like an inner mounting flame

Every fire needs it’s fuel

And in you I’ve found so much

What once was but a flicker

Is now white hot to the touch

When you’re all alone and burning

When you find you cannot flee

As you burn alive in Hades

How I hope you’ll think of me

This one goes out to anyone who ever underestimated you, stepped on you, tried to make you feel like less than, or used you to their advantage.

Reckoning is one hell of a rude awakening.

Words & Image: ©2025, The Beginning At Last

Comments

53 responses to “Inner Mounting Flames”

  1. Fedora Pancakes Avatar
    Fedora Pancakes

    Thanks! Yes, this was really needed.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, friend. 🙏

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  2. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar
    Ernie ‘Dawg’

    WOW! This is so powerful brother. The animosity pouring out of this makes me want to steal it, take it back into the past and give it to my ex. Very relatable post Kevin. 🏆🙏🙏

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Dawg.
      If there’s one thing I have no shortage of within me, it’s pure, unadulterated hate. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. And, I’ll be honest, a lot of people fucking totally deserve it.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar
        Ernie ‘Dawg’

        Good morning brother lmao.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Three coffees and an attitude. What can I say? 😄

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Caleb Cheruiyot Avatar
    Caleb Cheruiyot

    Wonderful ♥️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thanks

      Like

      Reply
  4. Not all who wander are lost Avatar
    Not all who wander are lost

    That is very relatable. It’s hard to quench the flames of hate that others inspire. But it reminds me of a quote in a book I used to teach my students. says, “I don’t know if anybody ever ‘wins’ a war, Jeth. I think that the beginnin’s of this war has been fanned by hate till it’s a blaze now; and a blaze kin destroy him that makes it and him that the fire was set to hurt”.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I believe sometimes things hit a point where scorched earth is the only viable option.
      Sometimes things, and people, need to be destroyed to be rebuilt better.
      Not saying I am glad that’s the way I feel it is, but sometimes it’s a harsh reality.
      And sometimes this can just refer to an internal struggle. We need to destroy ourselves to be reborn better and stronger.
      If I am at rock bottom, the only place I can go from here is up.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Violet Lentz Avatar
    Violet Lentz

    Mic Drop! then kick that bad boy off the stage!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Permanently, indeed.
      Thanks, Violet. 🙏🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. satyam rastogi Avatar
    satyam rastogi

    Wonderful post 🌅🌅

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, my friend! 🙏🙏

      Like

      Reply
  7. Ephemeral Encounters Avatar
    Ephemeral Encounters

    Wow this packs a punch Kevin 🔥🔥🔥

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you very much, Maggie. The demons are unleashed today lol

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Ephemeral Encounters Avatar
        Ephemeral Encounters

        Yes I noticed!
        Absolutely stunning my friend 🤗

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you. I guess I do angry not too badly LOL!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Ephemeral Encounters Avatar
        Ephemeral Encounters

        Lol
        Better on the page than elsewhere Kevin.
        My pleasure !

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        True! 😄😄

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Mary K. Doyle Avatar
    Mary K. Doyle

    You’ve mastered a powerful poem, my friend. I hope your day is absolutely perfect.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you very much, Mary. I’m letting the hounds off the leash at the moment 😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Spot on with a satisfying unleashed fury. Awesome 💯👍

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thanks very much, Chris. Today felt like a “kick some doors down” day. 💪

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Kymber @booomcha Avatar
    Kymber @booomcha

    This resonates with me, and I feel satisfied by it. Great work, Kevin!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Kymber. I’m in skull cracking mode lately, I guess lol

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. Kymber @booomcha Avatar
        Kymber @booomcha

        I don’t blame you 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        One thing I do well is pissed off 🤷‍♂️

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Kymber @booomcha Avatar
        Kymber @booomcha

        lolololol 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  11. joannerambling Avatar
    joannerambling

    Wonderful piece of writing

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Joanne. Very glad that you enjoyed it!

      Like

      Reply
  12. Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶 Avatar
    Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶

    Excellent writing, Keven. I really enjoyed your poem! 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you so much, Nancy! Very glad you enjoyed it. 😊😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. MazCat Avatar
    MazCat

    You’ve hit the ‘nail on the head’ thanks for the words I cling to them like frost on the windscreen!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      My pleasure, friend. Thank you! 💪

      Like

      Reply
  14. SiriusSea Avatar
    SiriusSea

    Molten lava HOT!!! L ❤ VED It ~ 😀 Too many times, Kevin 😀 I’m ready for the tide to turn!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Siri. Glad you liked it! 💪💪

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    This was amazing, Kevin ❤️
    Very powerful 😍

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, m’lady. 😊💓
      Sometimes the venom flows at the unlikeliest of times and the pen beckons it to be written regardless.

      Like

      Reply
  16. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
    Willie Torres Jr.

    Powerful and raw, Kevin. A truly intense piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you so much, Willie. Sometimes the venom must flow lest it consume us. 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
        Willie Torres Jr.

        Absolutely, sometimes we need to let it out to keep our peace.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Indeed we do, my brother. A fantastic day to you, my man👍👍

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Michele Lee Avatar
    Michele Lee

    There is some fierce energy in that poem, made more so with your endnote. 🔥🙌🏻

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you so much, Michele. Whatever it was just felt it needed to come out today. I let it take me where it wished. 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Michele Lee Avatar
        Michele Lee

        Good of you to listen! You’re very welcome and thanks for sharing. 💫

        Liked by 1 person

  18. philosophy through photography Avatar
    philosophy through photography

    Kevin, this is the poetic equivalent of slamming the door so hard the whole neighborhood feels it.
    May your reckoning be as dramatic as your verses suggest—preferably with a thunderstorm in the background.⚡⛈️😀😀

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Ironic that I wrote this on Thursday aka: Thor’s Day…lol
      Thank you, Professor. The words just flowed and I did not attempt to stem them. 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. philosophy through photography Avatar
        philosophy through photography

        Kevin, when the words flow like Mjölnir in battle, you just let them strike! Well done—Thor would approve. ⚡

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you, Prof!
        Verily, indeed! 💪

        Liked by 1 person

      3. philosophy through photography Avatar
        philosophy through photography

        Welcome, my friend.
        Wishing a lovely weekend!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you, Professor.
        It will be a bit less than lovely, since I am working it, but such is life in the “fast paced, exciting world” of manufacturing. 😄

        Like

  19. Flicker To A Flame – The Beginning At Last Avatar
    Flicker To A Flame – The Beginning At Last

    […] When I first clicked this pic, I had thought to write a poem as an accompaniment to Inner Mounting Flames. […]

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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