Edges of flesh
licked by flame
I can’t feel the hurt
am numb to the pain
burns many levels
or so they claim
beyond sensation
no number named
nothing hurts tho
quite as much
when kindness is stolen
human fire’s touch
friend or family
devil’s spawn
take inspiration
leave me raw
debride the tissue
apply agonizing cream
bandage the sorrow
inconsolable dreams
stolen ideals
did you ever think
can’t create own words
in a well of dried ink
This week’s prompt at Poet’s United is Fire. My week started with an accident to my hand (because of fire). No need for much internal inspiration when you feel the prompt.
Yes i could feel every word (and hope you are well) – burning can strip many a thing bare and yet words remain – as you admirably demonstrate
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Our physical bodies heal much sooner than the heart don’t they?
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Agree. This is the worst pain.
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Your poem has described well both the physical feeling of having been burned as well as the just-as-hurtful kind of burn when kindness is stolen. There really is a parallel here, and your poem expresses this so very well!
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Poetry is a wonderful conduit isnt it?
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Yes the physical and mental searing…both can be just as difficult to heal. Hope your hand is better soon.
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Thanks 🙂
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love this layered fire poem…fire indeed is much associated with hurt, one must be cautious…hope you are better now…
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Your pain is palpable throughout the poem.. hope you’re feeling better and that the injury was not too severe. Beautifully executed ❤
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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WOW! Being tied to the stake of unkindness, fire licking the skin and burning within! Oh! You have captured bullying and worse–
“… nothing hurts tho
quite as much
when kindness is stolen
human fire’s touch
friend or family
devil’s spawn
take inspiration …”
Betrayal by ones nearest and dearest, with all the kindling necessary, burns–
I love how you lead us there and through the ways we hide it to the inevitable dried ink from dulled feeling. A magnificent poem!
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Physically one can take it and rally one’s resolve to take charge! But when hurt emotionally it lingers on and leave us in an unsettling mode. Very true Moonie!
Hank
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Sorry to hear about you hand…hopefully you will recover soon with minimal pain.
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Im amazed my hand is still willing to recuperate with all the injury I subject it to.
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Oh I am so sorry for your accident. The pain must be terrible. I agree the internal wounds hurt us even more.
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Wow! You got injured for your art? You’re the man! Great poem, seriously, Mosk
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Ooh, burning is one of the scariest, nastiest things, I think. But you take the poem deeper than the surface hurt, and that is interesting. I have been loving the wonderful fire photos people have been using, beginning with Sumana’s at the prompt, and this one s particularly striking.
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The line lengths in this work so well…dark and moving.
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Can tell you felt it! Hope your hand is okay!
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__With my apologies, Moonie, I’ve adjusted three lines of your poem into (a sort of… senryu)another form, but they are still -your words and grand thought-_!
__That Hades Flame, please accept my wishes for quick comfort and healing. _m
the devils spawn
when kindness is stolen
a well of dried ink
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I like it (it says it all) – never apologize for your beautiful writing !!!
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How intensely graphic and painful it was to read this. Burns stop our brains from thinking straight and concentrates on no other issue.
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Well written, very powerful the pain of betrayal.
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It stings doesnt it?
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So sorry about your accident, but grateful that it inspired this lovely poem.
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thanks Myrna – I need to pay attention to what I am doing.
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I hope your hand better now.
but, i must say, this poem is written brilliantly 🙂
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Yikes! Out of pain you made beauty. I love the poem.
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Powerrful poem using the concept of fire figuratively. Very well-penned!
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