Fire in the Wood

Cherry

By camilla

Mon, 12 Dec 2011
  • 1674 reads
8 comments
 

The tree guys were here today
clearing, cutting ,and burning on site
Hawthorn, Box,Fat Ivy which strangled
the old fruit trees

When they left I asked if there was
any risk from leaving lit fires
with expected high winds tonight
no no said tree guy
I wouldn't leave it if there was
in fact a good wind will help it burn down

He is right of course
and now it is raining
so there will be no Californian
brush fire
no embers on the roof

But it has stayed lit
in driving rain
it burns
like a distant beacon
on a far hill
perhaps the resin from the dead Quince
keeps it alive
A Viking funeral for neglected trees

Perhaps it is the ghost of a fire
which burned in the Iron age
the howling of the wind
the howling of wolves

Certificate U
The Winter Moon
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by scratch on
Third stanza onward exponentially better, totally different plane from the introduction (which is also good). "But it has stayed lit In driving rain" A real portent for the strength of feeling and the sense of intrigue at the finale. Thanks.

 

Submitted by scratch on
But then again, I am thinking that the third stanza onward would not have the impact without the first two - forget my previous comment, sorry.

 

Submitted by scratch on
Congratulations on the cherries by the way - it was inevitable.

 

Submitted by fatboy74 on
Great poem (and comment from scratch) I love the transition from the everyday at the beginning to the mythical imaginings where the poem ends. Really good. :-)

 

Submitted by camilla on
Thanks for comments. I always end up writing something very late at night when I am nearly asleep. I should write things "somewhere else first" to try to make a coherent idea er coherent.I end up just doing it so it meanders where it wishes to meander. When son visits at Christmas I will ask him to help me with the computer so I can write things "somewhere else first". I don't understand the "private files" thing and putting things in folders on my computer is hell. The only way I can ever find things is by putting them on my desktop. I'm sure other people manage differently. Perhaps I should just stick to quill and ink.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Camilla - this is a gem of a poem. A joy to read, and I too like the transition between the mundane and the mythological. And by the way, I'm with you on the 'desktop'. If it ain't broke, why fix it, as they say?;-) Tina

 

Submitted by RachelPatricia on
Wonderful, camilla - very much enjoyed :)

Submitted by shyrewode on
Love the imagery here. You can almost see the camera pulling away from a close-up in the first two stanzas, to a sweeping aerial wide shot for the finale!