Saturday, November 05, 2011

Remember, remember

Confessions of a nine year old
(remember, remember the 5th of November)

I remember the night.
Early, latter day, Guy Fawkes.
A month of knocking on doors
‘got any rubbish for a bonfire ?’

I remember the night.
Accumulated papers,
stale news and redundant words
filling the shed with its gossip,
its tindered words
and unfinished serials.

I remember the night.
Flashing lights in the sky
not fireworks in colourful array
not the cracking of bangers
but the spangling sparklers
of emergency lights
the tuneless braying
of the fire engine.

It had been dark in the shed
full of broadsheet anguish
inky wars and weather forecasts
that proved false.
The torch had corroded
lifeless and forlorn -
a candle was a good idea
cheaper than new batteries.

I remember the night.
Putting the candle
on a plastic saucer
was a mistake,
a fuse.
I remember the night the shed burned down.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MNKfHzelz1UA0pR5xa1rTXunhL9sjInWapaqaV9-4HKNVtZlVeNyMN7XnyhqKyUCk9kpSKkJRKjsu7SUp5dk3yi2qi8X77HDIeCWdKg3bBFKKxR3HOVCruGdsFbADCiSVg/s1600/CWblogo.gif 
This is part of the November blog chain of writing by members of ChristianWriters.com - please see the full list  of those involved in the right hand column and visit a few of the others.

14 comments:

Jack Brown said...

I never saw it coming
good poem Keith

biiiig hug

Keith Wallis said...

The fire brigade decided it was probably caused by a cigarette stub. So I was left with the stigma of being an 'under age smoker' ! Not sure if that was better or worse than just being an idiot !!

Traci B said...

Definitely a different take on the blog chain topic. Thanks for sharing your memories and for doing it so well. Your turns of phrase always delight me. :)

Michael Johnson said...

You do a great job of getting across the regret without having to spell it out.

Cindee Snider Re said...

Words and memories wrapped in nine -- perfect!

M. L. Archer said...

Lol! That is soooo good! Thanks, Keith!

M. L. Archer said...

LOL! That was great, Keith! LOL!!!

chris said...

original and cute, i liked it Keith !!

Christine L.Henderson said...

What an interesting way to tell this memory in poem form with a surprising twist.

Keri Mae said...

That was a twist! You sure put words together very, very well; I like reading your poems.

From Carols Quill said...

Ouch! Hubby remembers a similar night.

I so loved the line "a candle was a good idea"! [am smiling]

Scott Fields said...

As you said, a rather tenuous connection to the theme . . . but the referential reminder of V for Vendetta redeems all. (I know that isn't the origin of the line, but I do love that film. . . .) I particlarly loved the "tuneless braying of the fire engine." Vividly stated.

Sheila Hollinghead said...

I believe we all have one or more such memories buried deep.

Thanks for sharing.

CH Dyer said...

Boys and fire, why does fire fascinate us so much. Nice job!
CH Dyer