fire

Advent Calendar Poem #3: Last Year’s Candles

Matchstick  struck 
smoulder  of smoke
 candle burning       brightly 
memories triggered by scents
of orange, cinnamon, pine
dance in rhythmic flame - 
and I lose myself 
         - willingly 
until the last wisp       of wax 
has burned away.

Thanks for reading day 3 of the advent calendar of poems. I hope your December is going well.

Let me know what you’re up to in the comments…

In the meantime, take it easy.

Paul

Incendiary

Golden sands were painted coal-dust black
          the day I found the flint
it called to me 
          like a flame draws a moth
I knew then my purpose 
          but setting the world ablaze
doesn’t come easy 
          often fires splutter out sparks 
and embers fade
           before they become effective
so I became patient 
           striking the firestone 
when it really mattered
           like the day            I found her 
and saw the kindling catch 
            behind her hazel eyes
the inferno still 
            roars.

Thanks for taking the time to read Incendiary. If you’d like to keep up to date with my newest poems as they come out, follow my site, and you’ll be updated with every new post.

In the meantime, take it easy,

Paul

Fire Escape

The flames weren’t suffocating
            it was the walls
and when they crumbled 
            under the honey-gold furnace of freedom
my claustrophobia burnt to cinder
             feeding the land renewed life
growing vines to reach out
             to the world.

It’s been a while since I posted a poem to my site, I’ve been very busy with other projects, but now I have some time to bring my focus back to my poetry.

Anyway, I hope you like the new stuff I’m releasing in the coming weeks.

Take It Easy,

Paul

Cosy at Christmas

It’s a grim, murky grey out in the world;
as the waving flames from the birchwood fire keeps us warm indoors –
our cheeks rosy, rosier than Santa’s hat;
Bing’s on the radio,
his voice velvet and relaxing;
amid the rustling Holly and ivy wrapping paper,
and tearing kraft-tape;
the Christmas lights could send me to sleep,
twinkling slowly, mesmerising;
but there’s prep to do;
a ginger cake to bake,
and toffee sauce to create,
– both from scratch;
the temptation of a powenap is stronger still;
the Nordic Sherpa blanket’s just been draped over me;
and I’m toastier than a marshmallow;

– well 5 minutes of snoozing won’t hurt,
I’ll just have a couple more quality street first.



I hope you enjoyed this poem and my Haiku Advent Calender. I’ll be releasing another poem on Christmas Eve along with a final haiku.

I’d just like to say a huge Merry Christmas and a Feliz Navidad.

Take It Easy

Paul

Advent Calendar Haiku #11

It’s Saturday and day eleven of the Haiku Advent Calendar. I hope everyone has a great weekend and fits in something festive.

We’ll be decorating the house and watching a Christmas film at some point. Probably Elf, Polar Express or Santa Claus: The Movie.

I’ve also got a few things to be getting finished and sent off before Christmas week itself so I’ll be a busy elf for the next eight days.

So, without further ado today’s haiku is …

the deep moor snow drift
hides the squirrel’s nut supply;
log fire at the pub.

Thanks for reading and remember to come back tomorrow for another haiku.

Take It Easy

Paul

(image courtesy of Canva)

The Last Days Of Summer

Soft-boiled sky

spread thin on the horizon

the sun’s rising later each day

maroon leaves and falling horse chestnuts

betray the arrival of

an early August autumn

we were too cloud-drenched to notice

too caught up in our own microclimates to care

but I welcome the new season

and the spectrum of flickering flames and hot embers

because I’ve always loved

dancing in the fire.

Thanks for taking the time to read my poem, originally wrote as part of #TopTweetTuesday on twitter, this is a farewell to Summer and a warm welcome to Autumn. Please feel free to leave a comment if you liked it or have any constructive critique.

Take It Easy,

Paul

What Is A Fire Without Flame?

a dispassionate mound
of glaucous ash
the warmth lost
ready to die out
at any moment

or rather

a scattering of embers
the reminder of warmth
we shared
when flames flickered in frivolity
kissing and caressing
kindling and coal
when white,gold and ochre
danced
as strong as they could 
for as long as they could
to the gentle chaotic rhythm of crackling
shades of silver in the hearth
silently whispering
Live Life Like The Fire.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this poem and are having a great day.

Take it Easy

Paul

Image courtesy of Canva.