Jar of Lights

Cherry

By Jane Hyphen

Wed, 12 Feb 2020
  • 2223 reads
8 comments
 

 

Holding my jar of lights

Closeted rays of hope 

Thaw those enduring walls of grey 

And frigid bleak indifference

One by one I gathered

Over time, in perceived stillness

Tiny flames of luminance

Not so bright to shine beyond

Nor enough to light the way

But an indwelling warmth 

To endure standing still 

Glowing flames interred

Away from the stifling blows 

Extinguish winds of doubters

A lantern for my fireflies

I nursed them, blew gently

Without fevered fan of flames

Let nobody inside to raid

Those little lights are mine

 

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Your writing is always very concentrated, and bubbling, I think, with metaphors, of which I'm probably not catching all! But I read this as hoarding a hope inside that you protect from attack, but aren't too sure you could really explain?? Rhiannon

Did you mean infernal warmth or internal warmth?

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Hi Rhiannon, thanks for your comment. Yes I think I must mean internal although infernal is a better sounding word - connected to...hell? I've edited to indwelling but I might mean hell after all.

Yes, it's those ideas, memories too which are unique to you and you needn't share them with anybody because that might somehow dilute their strength.

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I had not heard of "indwelling"  before. Having looked it up, it's a great word :0) There is a quiet, positive power in this:

"Not so bright to shine beyond

Nor enough to light the way

But an indwelling warmth 

To endure standing still"

I love the idea of memories being a jar of lights!

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks Di_Hard. Sometimes memories are what keeps you going and they can't be extinguished once they're stored inside, although the flames can muddle together in older age..x

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Love the nursed fireflies and that they are just yours. Very comforting piece. :)

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Hi onemorething, thanks for your comment. Comfort is what we all need a bit of.smiley

 

Submitted by celticman on

we all need to gather and tend as much light as we can. 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Light is an infinite resource, if only everyone could know that. Thanks celtic - hope you're well