Saturated fatty acids,
candle wax creations
inside human body;
enzymes sparking
generating heat,
absorbed into clothes
or hair,
creating mortal wick;
internal combustion
ignites instant inferno.
Flames leap from body
as torch blazes,
quickly disintegrating
bones and flesh,
sometimes leaving
clothes un-burnt.
Remains found by relative
who note sooty ashes
in an empty lounge chair,
as they stare perplexed
at one charred foot,
still in un-singed sock,
on multi-colored carpeting
in front of vacant recliner.
Author notes
POY contest entry
Theme: Human Spontaneous Combustion
We live about 25 miles from the town where one of the most famous cases of this occurred (on an odd note - it was also Elliott Ness' hometown 
) - and I was born there, also....lol
There are many theories on this strange phenomenon - I chose the 'wick effect' for this write....
I think this is probably unique - I've never seen anything on it before.....
A contest entry
- Poem of the Year - POY - by Bear by Arkbear.
12500 points, ended January 1, 41 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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The very first stanza made me think of this woman that scientists found. Her body fat mummified her and she was preserved for generations. Gross and weird, huh?
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Thanks 'Heroesrox' - glad you liked this.
yes, spontaneous combustion is a very bizarre phenomenon....gross and wierd is right!...lol
best wishes
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I'd much rather think about fries! This is bizarre stuff. I've noticed a lot of references to fire lately and dreamt about it last night!
Well done write. Congrats on the HM. -
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Thank you so much 'judyjudyjudy' - glad you found this interesting. Around here perhaps, it's talked about more - as this area has one of the most well-known occurrences.....it is strange. Kind of scary, too.....
best wishes
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Are you a Dickens fan?
One of the characters in Bleak House dies this way though it isn't described graphically. I think that was the first I heard of this phenomenon. -
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If I read Dickens, it would have been a thousand years ago in school....lol....
there are quite a few reports of this phenomenon - the most well-known, happened not far from here (about 20 miles, in the town I was born in!) which is prob. why I am more aware of this than others......strange things in life, aren't there?
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Yikes! I just looked this up. Scary stuff. Your poem describes this phenomenon well.
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Thank you 'Freed by Mercy' - yes, this is one of many strange human phenomenons. I guess living so close to the area of one of the most famous cases, makes us more aware of this than most people.
Yikes is right!...lol
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Wow! This one definitely made me sit up straight the first time I read it...and even on multiple readings it had a good lasting effect on me. I do agree with Bear on the flow being a bit "choppy", but then it isn't exactly a topic that calls for a graceful or smooth tone...IMO.
I loved the theme...and it is certainly unique. Great job, and congrats on the HM!
s
~J.
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Thank you so much Trista - I am pleased this held your interest and made an impact - and was 'unique'....lol
Hope you are feeling better! Best wishes for a GREAT new year.
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Certainly a unique theme!
Well worked FV that kept me reading right through to the end.
Jeff
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Thank you so much 'Jeff' - I am very pleased this held your interest.
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Hello Boom ~
**as tourch blazes**....too many spaces
Ok......hmm.....the thing I noticed quickly into your write, was your Flow......short.....choppy and disconnected from poetic Tone ~
But......I did like your write ~
I did not find it as Creative, as if you had used Metaphors in many places....instead of....."ok, this is how it happend......didot....didot...didit....didot ~
I see lots of other reviews are raving here.......but Boom, this just did not grab me or leave much of an Impact on me........but, you have a few other Judges coming behind me.....so let's wait and see what they say ~
IMHO, this is not your best for this year.......but it is a Theme which I have never seen penned on AP.....ironic....personally, I feel you rushed this Theme.....good luck & God bless my Friend,
Bear ~
(Bear watches for buckshot coming his way)
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lol - no buckshot coming your way....
I've noticed that sometimes on AP spaces seem to 'skip'....hmmm, not sure why on that.....
I've not written much at all over the past month, so for me - this was an accomplishment as it was a new write, not just some pre-write that I wrote awhile back and then entered. And - it's not a subject I have seen done at all - so I didn't just take a cliche topic and try to metaphorize it to make it different. So even though you didn't care for it that much, I like it and feel good about doing something new and different.
I appreciate your honesty.
Thanks for your critique.
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Certainly unique theme!, liked the title hehe, good images throughout, well done and good luck!
Alex.
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Thank you so much 'Alex' for your lovely comment. I am pleased you enjoyed this.
best wishes to you also!
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Excellent work again here aboomer! Visual and grabs your attention! THANKS AGAIN!!
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Thank you so much 'Pat....' for such a lovely comment. I am very pleased you enjoyed this.
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Think your right, I have never seen a write like it either. Superbly penned, you really took the theme one step further. Neat alliteration sprinkled throughout, I really enjoyed this one
I've read a lot about it myself, quite odd how it can happen. I think the wick theory and effect is the most popular. I agree with Pastel, terrifying thoughts! Good luck hunni
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Thank you LadyD - glad you enjoyed this.
Yes, it is a scary human phenomenon - but life is strange anyways, isn't it?...lol
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Yikes! What a terrifying phenom.
This is such an interesting and creative
write. It takes an abundance of talent
to make something so odd, creepy and tragic
a pleasure to read!!
I have missed reading you
Good luck!
~Pastel
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Thank you so much 'PastelMoons' - glad you enjoyed this.
Yes, it is a creepy phenomenon! And sure seems to baffle the scientists!
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Excellent write, took me back to Biology class.
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Thank you so much 'DolceVito' for reading and your lovely comment. I am pleased you enjoyed this.
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Hello, and welcome to the POY
Holy cow, I loved your entry! Everything about it is unique, from your title to the theme, and it was definitely creepy; I'll have nightmares about this for a while Lol, I love creepy things!
Well done & thanks for your entry!
Laura
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Thank you so much 'Immortal Obscurity' for such a lovely comment - I am so pleased you enjoyed this.
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Holy heck.. that was a brilliant write on a creepy topic! I've always been fascinated by HSC and seen some very weird pics of it! lol
Awesome write!
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Thank you kiwi - glad you enjoyed this.
It is a strange phenomenon - but then most of life is...lol
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Hi there and welcome to the POY I did find this to be an interesting piece a theme I have never seen before remember no editing once a judge has commented
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thank you 'Starz' - glad you enjoyed.
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Agreed... a truly interesting and somewhat unique topic. Didnt realise there were many different theories, so learnt something
excellent write , and I think I have seen the pic of the leg sitting in front of a lounge, covered in ash..
you were born in the same town as Elliot Ness?
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Thank you 'Non...' - glad you enjoyed this.
Yes, there are many theories - this is one of the most 'popular' ones.....
Actually, Ness lived in that town and died there (where I was born)... (he was born in Chicago, I think)......the next town over from here, we call 'little chicago' (and there is a movie being made there now - the 2nd one I think).......this whole area was 'mob' controlled...lol
The pic of the foot/leg left in front of the chair is from this area/town - Dr. Bentley (I think that's the correct name).....
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interesting topic i think human combustion is just weird i like how this is written the title doesn't really make sense tough
~GOOD LUCK~
*Mystal* -
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Thank you 'Mystal LaRose' - glad you enjoyed this.
The title is basically a tongue-and-cheek on all the saturated fats we eat - which provides the 'wax' in this particular theory......it was a fast-thought. May edit that later.
thanks again
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This is TOO interesting! ? I enjoyed reading this...best of luck in the contest!
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Thank you Az - glad you enjoyed.
We don't hear about this much - except when someone starts asking if we are the area that doctor 'self-combusted'.....I guess living close to all these wierd things - we just got used to it......lolol
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Aloha ha ha!
You know this one...and the one you wrote about the coffee...will probably stick with me for life...that's impact
What a theme!...It is an interesting phenomenon isn't it?
Best wishes in the contest...and always.
once again your creative mind has found something to make us go hmmmmmm....for a very long time.
Write on!
Remember: No editing once a judge has commented on your entry! -
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Thank you 'islekine' - glad you enjoyed, and this write will also 'stick' with you for a long time....lol
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