Salamander, Ex

I heard that you had retired

from the fire,  Salamander.

Where have you gone and

what have you been?

What do you do

when you can’t go out -

by which I mean

extinguish yourself,

not pop to the shops?

I was in a band for a while

with that Phoenix.

He only showed up

once in a while,

but once he did...

a narcissist though,

it must be said.

The insurance for the gigs

got out of hand.

Then I got a health and safety role.

People sniggered when

I said, please take more care.

In my anger at not being

believed as sincere,

I must have incinerated

hundreds of them.

Oops, my bad.

Nowadays I reside on

Aldabaran, and barren

is exactly the word for it.

Can’t get a decent curry here

for love nor money.

Still, I keep an embered eye

out for your little marble world.

I get invites all the time

to come back  and burn

it all for once and good,

but looks as if you’re

doing that without

my special expertise.