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Ignited

Like blaze of raging bonfire
Flared high against my stacks,
And piqued inexperience,
Rendering me without shield,
Was love when first it came to be.
It whipped and lashed me round about
With spirited tongues of passion’s flames
Lapping swiftly all that had been touched,
But left wholly unaffected by former deftless glint--
As flint, alone, unstricken.
Oh, belated affectation!

But being pyre for other purpose placed,
Powerless to draw near
And lavish warmth upon you,
I let the fires, instead, consume the boughs of self
And strongest broken trunks of need
And held it deep within. . .  containing--
Allowing only scarce escape
Of softly glowing dust of word
Or spark of longing eye.

And now with timbers fully devoured,
And aptly-practiced surface
Appearing snuffed as ash--
Covering passion, dormant never,
But formed of
Embers ever smoldering,
Slightly crackling--
My white-hot incandescence
Radiates, undefiled.

And so, my love, most ardent love,
I beg, do not come near
Nor even stretch most cautious, kindling finger here
Stoking me (Oh, quiet, hot arousal!)
With hope of what can never be!
For just the winds of soft approach
Would set alight a fevered inferno
Whose heat has not yet coarsed in this tried world
Nor in heights or depths beyond,
And surely it would burn complete--
Engulfing all I am and know.


In a list

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 14 of 14

  • Roaddog Wolf gold member
    May 8

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    beautiful write this is

    and very hot and full of loves depths of fire. just beautifully penned, good write

    Thank you for this entry and good luck in the contest


  • Auburn Sunrise gold member
    May 1

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    Wow... I can see why this won so many trophies! It is absolutely ... amazing.
    What a great extended metaphor! You took this much further than I ever could have, and I really enjoyed reading it (even though my greatest fear happens to be fire).
    I think fire is an apt analogy to love... both are fickle, dangerous, destructive, consuming... but so warm, beautiful and enchanting.
    A wonderful write!


  • raggyann
    March 13
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    this is filled with images
    it is beautifuly written
    i so love reading your work


  • Tangled Angle
    March 7
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    I remember this one, still, very strong and profound.

  • ellipsist
    September 20, 2007

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    wow! yes... filled with such

    poetic elements and imagery and such strong metaphor... a beautiful and intense write... I had to read it twice and shut out all background noise and even as I tried to read it slowly, the second time, there is a kind of rush about it, a rush of emotion - the intensity nearly consumes...

    I like the repetition of sounds... kind of sounds like a chant inside of my head...

    incredible... incredibly that feeling can be done with such intensity and written about so articulately...

    it is quite a poignant write as well... while one may not be able to identify with a love this intense, it does kind of inspire introspection... it speaks, to me, of the sometimes self destructive nature of love, of human nature in general... how all encompassing something can be and how one can feel so fragile in the wake of another, a being or experience... it definitely provokes thought about the frailty of the human condition, perhaps gives pause to allow us to identify those things/people that inspire us to be so fragile...


  • Tangled Angle
    August 3, 2007

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    Wow, this has probably got to be my favorite one of yours. The overall metaphor is so deep...and the other intricate metaphors woven in are so.. interesting and creative. Very clever, profound poem balanced with emotion and abstracted images.. Loved this.


  • Wolf Mistress silver member
    July 29, 2007

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    In need of comments Look to all these trohphees

    This is really something..made me think of Shakespear

    All I can say for now is wow!!!!
    Congrats with this beautiful write
    XXJeannette


  • Freed by Mercy silver member
    July 7, 2007

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    Beautiful, poignant, passionate write. Some love can consume us entirely. Eros love, the love of a true saint towards God. This is a love both seemingly tragic yet also our highest purpose. Very well penned!


  • Everwind Rising
    July 5, 2007

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    This is an exquisite example of your incredible talent. Reading this reminds me of my early exposure to great poets such as Elizabeth Barret Browning, and Emily Dickenson in school. Your skillful manipulation of the English language, your meaningful use of simile and metaphor, and your mastery of rhythm are here woven together in an amazing exhibition of word power.

    You raise the English language or rather you rise to the potential of it in pieces like this one (this is not the only one in which you do).

    It is evident to me that not only each word but indeed each syllable is carefully chosen to bring about the desired linguistic beauty, stunning imagery, and emotional expression. Reading pieces like this only confirms to me the debth and height and breadth of your latent potential.

    This poem has a timeless quality as touching on the common themes of the heart, desire, and love. But more than that it has a timeless style that would be recognized as true top level poetry of any time regardless of whatever current poetic fad dominates the day.

    I think penman hit the nail on the head when he said that this poem was "well crafted". That is exactly what this poem is - "crafted", not just "written" and you are the craftswoman of immeasurable skill.


    • ten thousand cicadas gold member
      July 5, 2007
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      Everwind, thank you so much for your encouraging and most generous words. You know Elizabeth Barret Browning is my favorite, so I simply cannot imagine her marvelous works being brought to mind when I have merely recorded the message that grows in my humbled heart. You are too, too, kind. Your words, as always, encourage and inspire me to be more.

  • AliceinPoetryLand Moderators member
    July 3, 2007

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    Oh wow what intednse emotion this has. What exceptional ,metaphor you have used thoughout. This is certainly a really well crafted poem.
    Thanks for entring so I could read it or I would forever have missed out
    Gaylene


  • penman gold member
    June 29, 2007
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    Excellent

    Oh my what well crafted poem. Most deserving of the hon. mention.


  • sheltered
    June 11, 2007

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    Wow

    Intense emotion... Powerful images. There must have been some crazy good poem that won this contest. Great job.


  • Cupcrazy gold member
    June 7, 2007

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    Wonderful piece, deep and emotional. Loved the phasing and the feeling of need that is left to burn within. Great write and thank you for this excellent entry. Hugs, Bunny

1 - 14 of 14