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I Catch on Fire
by Jake Heggie
Long black dress to my toes–Flowing black sleeves and veil.
A walking bolt of black material.
Fourth grade religion class–Teaching full force:
The Gospel according to…
Lit candle.
Fifty little eyes wide. Twenty-five voices shout:
“Sister! Sister! You’re on fire!”
Flames shooting. Hands beating.
Silence. Breathing.
Children, this teaches us always to be careful with fire.
Now, years later, when I pray
I catch on fire. Amen.
Recordings
The Deepest Desire
(Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Jake Heggie)
2006
Flesh and Stone: Songs of Jake Heggie
(Raymond Carver, Emily Dickinson, Jake Heggie, Sister Helen Prejean, Gene Scheer and Anne Sexton)
Sheet Music
The Deepest Desire
Composer(s): Jake Heggie
Song(s): 1. More is Required
2. Love
3. I Catch on Fire
4. The Deepest Desire
5. Primary Colors