Nature of Fire

~ this is a poem about freedom ~

Image by Jocelin Carmes

 
So inconceivable
he thought…

that such a structure
can be so wholly engulfed

the fire so fierce

but what of the fury
in that single first flame

to have leapt
so viciously
to consume

to ravage

to devastate
so absolutely

it is always there
the nature of fire

like the rage
of a violated being
too long held down

unjustly deprived

confined

all potential denied
where there is great potential

spirit squelched
where there is great spirit

sometimes
an entire people
can be denied

until finally
a single incident

a single first flame

unleashes a righteous inferno
that has no bounds

it is always there
the nature of fire

the power to combust

to blaze
so brilliantly

can only be suppressed
for so long

it is always there
the nature of fire

ready to explode

like the fury
in a single first flame

like the fury
in a suppressed people

and when the smolder
becomes full flame

all will burn

it is always there
the nature of fire


~ Ukraine will be released ~

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: The Sunday Muse

More poetry at: dVerse

 


32 thoughts on “Nature of Fire”

  1. Absolutely beautiful. A beautiful tribute to the people of Ukraine.
    See you in a few minutes at OLN LIVE!

    Be patient when you get to OLN LIVE….it takes me a few minutes to get in and get started 🙂

    1. Thank you so much Lil, you got it up and running today very smoothly. I just stayed up all night so I would be there on time for when it began, I went back to bed immediately afterward and I just woke up so I’ve had about four 4 1/2 hours sleep, but I’m doing OK. The turnout certainly proves that doing a Saturday at least once a month along with the Thursday that we do twice a month, makes a lot of sense. Great idea!

  2. You have captured its power so well. I lost everything to fire once, started over from scratch. I especially like the stanza about the fire in a suppressed people, how it will ultimately burn for freedom. Let’s hope so. Actually, we are seeing it in Ukraine right now. Such courage.

    1. Thank you Sherry I appreciate your kind words. I am so sorry to learn that you lost so much in such a devastating fire. I know that it’s taking courage to build back from that. Again you have my sympathy my friend.

  3. I so enjoyed your reading today, Rob! The repetition of ‘it is always there / the nature of fire’ is very effective – it’s always there – and the description of the fury in that single first flame. I like the way you shift from the fury of the fire to ‘the rage / of a violated being’.

    1. It only takes one either, the first flame or the first person to rebel, and you’ve got an inferno. Want to fire the other is revolution. Thank you Kim I’m glad you enjoyed this.

    1. Thank you Suzanne… 🙂 I think the human fire that burns for freedom lives in each of us — but sadly not everyone gets to realize it, and that is a crime against nature.

  4. This is such a poignant tribute to the people of Ukraine, Rob! I so hope they are released soon. Saturday was such a success! 🙂 I think we will be having more sessions. Fingers crossed!

  5. Devastation and rage – all too common now. The repetition of :
    it is always there
    the nature of fire

    powers this poem.

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