She Burns Us
Poema Arcanus
The Allure and Destruction of Desire in 'She Burns Us'
Poema Arcanus' song 'She Burns Us' delves into the complex interplay between desire, temptation, and the inevitable consequences that follow. The lyrics, penned by Claudio Carrasco, are rich with metaphors and vivid imagery, painting a picture of a person grappling with their inner demons and the irresistible pull of their desires. The chorus sets the tone by acknowledging the inherent nature of all things and men to be drawn to certain temptations, symbolized by 'her,' a figure that represents both allure and destruction. The blood calling her child for many years suggests a deep-rooted, almost primal connection to these desires, making resistance futile.
The verses further explore this struggle, with the narrator describing their actions and the consequences that follow. The imagery of crawling like a spider, small, dirty, and free, evokes a sense of vulnerability and surrender to these desires. The act of hiding from the light and turning loose hidden desires under dust signifies a deliberate choice to embrace the darker aspects of oneself. The repetition of sinning and denying three times highlights the cyclical nature of this struggle, where the narrator is caught in a loop of indulgence and regret, only to be left with the ashes of their past.
The song also touches on the theme of existential risk and the fleeting nature of life. The narrator's leap into the void and the pleasure derived from this fragile existence underscore the human tendency to seek out risky, often self-destructive behaviors in search of meaning or escape. The final lines of the song, where the narrator drowns in their addiction to burn with 'her,' encapsulate the ultimate surrender to these desires, even at the cost of one's past beliefs and identity. The light, which gives life but also takes it away, serves as a powerful metaphor for the dual nature of desire—both life-giving and destructive.