A Tanka of Flames

[labelleizzy]

Smoky candle wick
Relit by match through the smoke
Magical science!
Silver sooty snuffer burns;
Pain and blisters as I learn.

Around the campfire
Dreaming, mesmerized by flames:
Red, gold, blue, orange.
Flash! Roar! Swoosh! Whiskey on coals!
“You guys actually DRINK that?”

Many fires go out.
Dad dies. Grief drags us all down.
Under the rain and fog
Slog through the mud seeking joy
In Library, Students, Books.

Candleflame, cauldron.
Friends in darkness, points of light
Sometimes belonging
Ritual, dance, myself, words...
The sun comes out, the rain stops.

A phoenix, reborn:
Passion flames as strength returns.
Tattoo needles burn,
Fighter’s heart burns fear for fuel
Crucible of warriors.


This is my Week 15 entry for therealljidol. This week's prompt was "A terrible beauty has been born."
The link to the poll is HERE if you would be willing to vote for me, thank you.
Please follow the elegant and finely-crafted link HERE to read the excellent work of my colleagues in this endeavor.

Comments

[karmasoup.livejournal.com]

It's amazing where and how we can find strength when we need it, and it's always good that we should be able to turn to those things which help us find it, and get through our challenges.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Yes, this. Good point.

[tjoel2]

I love that!

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It was time to start a new constraint for myself. :)

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

Oh! I really really enjoyed this!

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

=D

[kajel.livejournal.com]

Lovely!

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

thank you, sweetie!

we seem to be cropping up poetry all over the place this week.

[temperance14.livejournal.com]

Lovely sequence. Tanka is a brilliant form to use: haiku works through objectivity and restraint, but tanka allows a breath of yourself to follow through.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie! Hey, it's an open vote this week...?

[mamas-minion.livejournal.com]

Lovely

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Lovely imagery!

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Thank'ee kindly!

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

It is so hard to lose someone, and you describe it well-- searching for distractions as if they are the anchors that will keep us here and present when all we want to do is float away and forget.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

I can tell that you know something about this, yourself.

Thank you for the kind comment.