Inspired by F2. 24 Boitata and F3.24, Black-eyed Children

Eyes of Fire and Chill

Eyes take in the light, reflect and refract,
heated observation burns with fury–
a gaze that combusts to protect,
regenerating by fire to make the world right,

and then the opposite,

dead souls with eyes of bottomless black.
What makes us turn children into demons—
brightest hope dashed and fears projected,
we see the monsters within.

For Paul Brookes’ Folktober Challenge. You can see the images and read the other responses here.