Most habits
Are learned lazily
Incorporated into being, before aware 
Of what it means to be.
A habit is a slothful fellow
Whispering in our ears;
You’ve done it before
Come sit by the fire 
And watch others rush at life
Put your aching bones close to the warmth
Feel the security of what you’ve gone and done
So many times
And if you were asked
To break out of your stupor
Throw water on the fireplace, dousing heat
And with no preparation
Launch into a violent rain storm
Obscuring your direction
Lashing your sides with chill
Would you follow?
Thrill seekers maybe
The very young, the chronically overlooked
That girl with braces who wanted to be the busty blonde
Maybe they’d fall like extinguished stars
Into the storm
And from their yearning to matter, to win 
They’d keep going long after the memory of fire was lost
Fighting without knowing why, on the off chance
Suffering brought you nearer
To really living and grabbing by the throat
Its beaten heart
Or you may forgive yourself
The hesitancy of those
Born fatigued by knowledge
This world’s loose knots and fallen heroes
As a splayed chess board can be used
For kindling
I used to imagine outside my window, the clamoring future
Now
I sit staring at flames 
As they consume and turn to coal
Painted stages
And it is the soft stir of moonlight
Lifts my gaze 
Watching the edge of time, rub herself dry
All things will come and go
Whether we chase or remain rooted
It is the repetitive homage of a circle
To revisit ourselves
Standing beyond shelter
Contemplating beneath infinity
Our place in the universe

26 Replies to “The memory of fire”

  1. Wow– this poem is amazing. TYSM for your card this year btw. I am going to send you back some correspondence. I do love this poem and the same kind of thought has been on my mind which you expressed so beautifully here.

  2. After five years you have never ceased to intrigue me. Your passion for your craft is indisputable. It’s been an absolute pleasure. I truly hope your future has been written in some glorious way.
    Your Viking follower ❤️

  3. Utterly and truthfully profound!!! How very splendid and prophetic are your words, love!!! It reminds of a movie I saw and bought decades ago called QUEST FOR FIRE. Love, N 🙂 <3

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