Through sleepless night tossed and turned
for Mercy Street had come ablaze, haze
and bitter smoke rose filling the air burned
eyes, choked voices holding back, glazed
in wonder; we saw the young Fireman again
running into burning smoke, the little hell
licking air and bellowing fierce billows;
he had already given his life, whole of waking days
to child and wife, waiting anxiously; somewhere
a plea for help, and more smoke, and greater fire
little Nun stood stoic beneath flamed steeple
seeming holier in the glistening light, swooped
in arms of rescue frail glasses gleaming goodbye;
and no sooner sat on a quiet curb, she held a child
lost and alone, alone no more, in rectory shadow
the noise on the street began to fade as drifting hopes
filled empty skies with offerings of bygone days
when passion made fire and smoke
and boys played hide and seek to be company
to lonely girls, dim alleys became highways to love;
scuffling shoes hurried undress, quick then too quick;
and the ice man, fish monger, old hay wagon
wah – tah- mel- lons, cut a plug, gotta be sweet…
older girls wearing little sister’s short pants,
‘til men fall sideways, blinded by the sight!
There on charred street corner,
where young boys used to gather and sing
before the wars; now like baker and grocer
that were no more, now to be forgotten barber and salon
where crude confessions mixed with fiery rumors;
there was stillness, crackle of lives become embers
and the weary young Fireman so downcast
and empty handed, turned to rest and home
somewhere, where warmth is found in a baby’s smile
and smoke rises from a pinched candle.
Author notes
the core of this was used in a contest as a collaboration, but this is the version that I wrote alone... reflecting some personal experiences, and people dear to me...PK
“Mercy Street”, a poem by Anne Sexton
In a list
A contest entry
- my first contest , come one come all by AmyPixiDust.
600 points, ended March 11, 10 entries
Honorable winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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cool
i like all this discripiton your poem has telling all the detials of being a fiereman, i like about the baker and grosher and the corner that is no more, thank you for entering, good luck in my contest, and keep writing -Amy
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