Radioactive

All the energy of the sun,
Stored up for so long,
Is released now-
With a negative sign-
As the strongest bonds begin to
break.

At first it leaked out quickly,
the torrid heat escaping
As the energy dissipated;
But now it's at a snail's pace,
Lingering, the heat all but gone,
And yet...

Part of it remains there,
I dare not - can not - touch it
Or even go near it.
Nothing could protect me from that poison,
So I still fear it;
And yet...

There it is, infecting me,
Still making me sick
Though that once welcome heat is now long gone.

There it is, your memory...