
Sunday Whirl…blame the first lovely wood fire of the year
I sort of started this whirl in the morning over a nice cup of tea and it went nowhere. But then got on with my day of errands and running around and by the time I got back to it, it was late afternoon and Chloe said, “mom, it’d be nice to have a fire tonight.” and then that was that, the whirl became all about the fire.
How does that happen? π Thank you to Brenda for the manageable words this week.
habits, create, however, virtue, regard, gap,
cycle, undoing, lessen, choice, gathering, suffering
You regard the virtue inside the cardboard rectangle that fits in so nicely in your hand.
Smooth edges turning between your fingertips, sandpaper rough against the soft parts of your palm, inside holding torches, slides in and out and in and out, its one function: to light your fire
Lessen the load by one wooden stick. That familiar cycle, strike and spark, ignite, flicker, flame, burn.
Smell of sulphur, of smoke, of late nights in a cabin full of candle shine, gathering twigs and pine cones that sizzle and pop.
Of nights in the ashtray of a hotel bar. Of stick after stick, smoke after smoke blending in the hazy grey.
Of habits in pockets, creates excuses for names and numbers, lives in the junk drawer in your house, measures your choice and suffering, lets you know where you’ve been, where you might go again.
A carbon copy waiting inside the chamber holding fire, sliding in and out and in and out, now it appears in your hand to strike, split-second gap, then ignite and burn, sizzle, pop, hiss, choke, sulphur smoke.
Do it again
However, that is your undoing.
Claudsy
Good one, Veronica.
Veronica
π Thank you Claudsy π
Claudsy
You’re welcome, my friend.
Elizabeth
So the object was to use all the words crossed out? You wove them together so beautifully. π
Veronica
Thank you Elizabeth, yes, each week there are a dozen words to play with. You could play along. π
Dewena Callis
Wow! And all I thought was that you were writing the best story of a matchbook that I’d ever read. Did not know that there was more to it than that until I read an above comment. I’m doubly impressed now!
Veronica
Hi Dewena, thank you so much, you’re such a sweet sweetie. π
1sojournal
I am a sucker for a bonfire, always have been. Love that you wove these words around that experience. I took photos of the last one and then played with them digitally. You can see them here, if you like:
http://claudetteellinger.wordpress.com/
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/in-regards-to-this-waiting/
Veronica
Hi Elizabeth, me too! I try to be in England into the autumn so Robert and i can have a lovely bonfire, and of course, Guy Fawkes night. (Just without the effigies…can’t stand those) On my way to the link. π
oldegg
How many years did you take me back? Millennia perhaps where the wonder of controlling fire first gave mankind a means to an end. The power within the flicker of a flame we can stare at it and we see our history. Great piece of writing.
Veronica
It’s so primal and powerful, isn’t it/ I love striking that match. Thank you so much Old. π X
Sara v
Love textures emotions in this π
Veronica
Nice, thank you. π
Daryl
love that blaze … we have a non-working fireplace …. not as romantic but a lot less insurance!
Veronica
Oh I know. Mom and dad bought an apartment for their eventual old age and it didn’t have a fire place so they bought an electric one. Poor excuse. They never turned it on and always used the one at the house (gas fireplace). The apartment with the electric fireplace got sold after dad’s death. One of my must haves for this house I eventually bought was a wood burning fireplace. A real luxury in Vancouver; the city of no allowable new wood fireplace permits.
Cheryl's Voice
Wow! You really lit yourself on fire with this one. I could see myself in this across decades of matches and fires, lost phone numbers in matchbooks, lost connections, and family gatherings. Well done!
Veronica
I’m so glad Cheryl. There’s something so primal and satisfying about striking that match, isn’t there? π
magicalmysticalteacher
We know what our undoing is, and yet we do it anyway! Perverse creatures, aren’t we?
The Single Pancake
TexWisGirl
we’ve had a cold few days in texas, too. my fireplace/stove has been getting a lot of use, too. π
Pamela
Veronica, a beautiful poem on the warm of the fireplace. Very nice.
Pamela