Watching the Fire

Gold cherry

By Jane Hyphen

Fri, 08 Nov 2024
  • 754 reads
14 comments
 

 

I sat and watched the fire,

I let it hold me in its stirrings,

wrapping its wings around me,

burning away the layers,

melting the seal of everything

that was long and lost.

Boiling sap, running like tears,

the helpless timbers wept,

their gnarly tracks all aglow,

lighting the way back

to when we were green.

 

Searing flares of reflection 

ignite the darkest corners 

of memories held.

Faces in the smoky distortions,

choked me as they thinned away.

And among the scalding rattle,

a song played of my father,

I saw his little devils

dance among the embers.

I stared at old flames, knowing

they were only ever flashes.

 

From restless simmers 

of the past, the firebird made 

the softest nest of ashes.

I watched as she grew weaker

among glinting amber lights.

And with a gentle hiss she died away,

leaving only her dreamy embers.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Di_Hard on

This is beautiful. "I let it hold me in its stirrings" is perfect for that need to look deep into flames, not look away, as if in respect for what is happening to the trees, their long lives.

" everything

that was long and lost.

Boiling sap, running like tears,

the helpless timbers wept,

their gnarly tracks all aglow,

lighting the way back

to when we were green"

that's brilliant. And how you describe the heat as wings, wrapping round you is wonderful. And the end, when you write of the firebird, it is as if magic died

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Hi Di, thank you for your comment. I've had a few fires recently in the back garden, they pull me in and put me in a sort of comatose state of reflection. What a luxury it is to have access to the elements and a garden to mess around in. I love the idea of a firebird too - dangerous too I suppose.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

This magical poem is our Facebook and X Pick of the Day!

Picture by mattbuck, copyright free from Wikimedia Commmons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wraxall_2013_MMB_76_Bonfire.jpg

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you so much for pick of the day.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

this poem is breathtakingly good Jane. Your imagination as to what you are seeing in the flames of the fire took my breath away. I like how at the beginning you start with a crescendo, then at the end fades...such a perfect ending.

Very much enjoyed and such a worthy poem.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you Jenny. There is so much to a fire, a life force and so beautiful to watch. A very inspriring IP, as it should be.I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I did struggle with the ending rather a lotlaughx

 

Submitted by Mr. Moon on

 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you Moon

 

Submitted by celticman on

you are fire, the creator. 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks celticman x

 

Submitted by marandina on

"Searing flares of reflection 

ignite the darkest corners 

of memories held.."

There's a certain cathartic feeling when reading this that swirls around the dreaminess. Smoke and fire metaphors in themselves and laid bare by your poem.

Beautifully done, Jane.

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you Paul. I do love a fire, always cathartic and dreamy.

 

Submitted by a102866 on

A nostalgic but whimsical poem. I liked the line "their gnarly tracks all aglow". Also, I think of the tree rings as stored memories in time's vault. A sentient verse that titilates the imagination. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you. The tree rings are like a vault of memories I agree.