This week I came up with a prose/poem thingie for the six-sentence story hop. The weekly prompt words—this week it's FIRE—are provided by Denise.
You can access all the entries and sixers of the week at the link-up.
I have also linked it up at the dVerse Open Link Night, where you can find many super talented poets... You can check out their entries at the link-up.
FIRE
I think I have encountered some burns in my life...
At the age of ten, I lit a match—
it blew up in my face—
and I smelt the flame erase my eyebrows,
but it didn't stop me from smoking.
Tried to flip a pancake with my fingers
and I didn't feel a thing until the skin had melted—
three and twenty years later—
I still enjoy flipping them on a Sunday morning.
Chugged whiskey from the bottle at the age of twelve
as the boys cheered and the girls gasped—
even though I puked for hours and slept on the bathroom floor—
I still enjoy a glass... straight as it can get.
Told a man, as old as I, that I found his smile appealing;
he told me I had a perfect body, desiring to be my first—
I stood in the scorching shower, scrubbing, crying—
but I still believe in the beauty of smiles.
After fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen,
I have come to believe that the art of life is learning to handle the fire—
even if it might destroy me, I would rather stay warm by its side—
and why not eat roasted marshmallows while I'm at it?
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50 Comments
Good point: “the art of life is learning to handle the fire”
Once burned, a little bit wiser…but certainly not twice-shy. I like this positivity, painful as it might seem at first blush.
Thank you very much!
Thank you!
Most interesting… we all still need to learn something new, even though it might not go in the best way. Just a thought… again.
Thank you! And well, learning is cool… You her to know a lot of cool stuff on the process… Or… Food for creativity.
I love the conversational style – it adds to the poems strength- it feels raw, self-aware, bittersweet and surprisingly warm exploring the complicated ways we learn from pain 🙌
Thank you so-so much, am happy you liked it despite of it’s grimness at times
powerful stuff, yo
Thanks!
A fun Six!
Let’s see: yes and yes — nearly burnt down the garage as a child, playing with matches; not whiskey but honey mead, and not the whole bottle — I was tossing my cookies after two glasses; my fingers are hyper-sensitive so I’d never try your pancake trick; most men are of sound and gracious mind — but not all of them. Thankfully.
Thank you so much! Love this comment, made me smile big!
Very powerful Six poem 👍
Thank you so-so much!
Powerful is an amazing compliment to a writer like me… Or who I aspire to be one day.
Thank you!
Love it… and we still nead that heat even after being burned
Thank you so much and yes, we still need the heat…
This is so raw and poignant ~
Thank you so much!
Carrying on beats the alternative. I enjoyed your memory poem and that you show your vulnerability and your persistence in those experiences.
Thank you so-so much! Am glad you liked it, and yea… Carrying on does beat the alternative… By a mile… At least…
So engaging and relatable!
Thank you am happy it was engaging.
Yum. The whole thing. Thanks
Thank you!
Beautifully written! You are like a moth to a flame!! Reminds me of the song, I Did It My Way!!
Thank you! And it does seem so lol.
Kids are wrapped in cotton wool these days. They won’t know what to do when they get burned.
Nice write Reelika 👏
Thank you!
It seems we are destined to learn our lessons a little bit at a time! Great observations 🙂
Thank you!
Loved it Reelika, as Bukowski said, ” what matters most is how you walk through the fire.” Great poem and I am the same way, learning the hard way without wholly rejecting it and in fact incorporating it. Much Love ❤️
Thank you so so much.
Fire can scorch, but it can also warm–yes. I think you’re right, it’s all in the handling of it. I have my own burning memories, as most of us do, and you spell yours out here fabulously.
A wonderful, raw and honest read, underpinned with a wry tone. Loved it. And related to it – I won’t say which stanzas!
Thank you, am glad you liked it… Hopefully you did not relate to the worst stanzas though…
I would rather stay warm by its side—
and why not eat roasted marshmallows while I’m at it?
Yes Reelika, just do your own thing and and be happy to experience them.
Just stay in one piece being you for the future!
Thank you and I will give my best!
Sometimes we learn, also, what fires to avoid.
I agree…
Thank you!
Burnt fingers are more metaphorical in my case, but this tale of resilience in the face of hard lessons is exemplary, Reelika – hope you might be there to read it at the OLN live?
Oh, thanks a lot for the comment… I think I will skip this time though… sorry… am a bit shy reading live and am not alone at home currently to set up my soundcard and mic to read it in a way that feels good… Sorry 😔
Another time perhaps…
You don’t have to read you know, there’s no pressure, whenever you are ready…
Maybe next time… Thankful for the invite though.
Such a great message of getting back up after being kicked. It’s a positive message, learning from mistakes–and learning to handle the fire and eating a marshmallow, too. 😊
Thank you so much! I also think it does have a positive message underneath it all.
I love the last stanza, Reelika. Brilliant summation of her attitude towards life. Live it to the fullest, with all our human foibles, and always, find the positive from the negative.
It would be darn hard otherwise. Thank you so much Denise!
Why not!!! Eat those roasted mashmallows
Much love
Yup. Yummy! Thank you!