November 12th 1963
Close enough to touch
heat against window panes
scorching
boiling water in a birdbath
Hysteria – people panicking,
running – disbelief – stay calm
remain in control
Flames reaching the clouds
burning the sky,
lighting up the night
Red, orange and blue ribbons
heat overbearing – too hot
Sheets of water fly,
extinguishing the enemy
revealing a charred outer shell
that was once a home
Red Wolf Journal Spring 2014, and a fresh start
10 years ago
Posts
Intense - what a poem. I devoured it!
ReplyDeleteTrue story Ollie. The house across from us burnt down in the middle of the night. It left a big impression on me.
ReplyDeleteVery powerful. I can see the charred remnants. Great writing, Pamela.
ReplyDeleteSad but powerful. Sometimes one has to lost almost everything to discover what a thing is.
ReplyDeleteI'm also an English teacher, Pamela! How cool is that!?? =)))
I want to thank you muchly for your lovely comment on my blog, Poesia Torta, hope to see more of you around.
Kisses! =*
That's no way to treat a home. Powerful! One night in the I don't know when time, the two houses next door burned, and our garage burned. We waited and watched breathlessly, to see it the house would catch fire. It's an awful thing. Our house didn't burn, but over time, the family got old, moved away, and now they are all gone. It is all a part of the past. It was an awful night, and even though we were grateful we didn't burn, there was much sadness because of the loss of the neighbors.
ReplyDeleteWow. That was so intense and frightening! You wrote about it with such clarity that I'm not sure I can shake the image now.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I really like your header, both the photo and the words. They may say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one!
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the impression it left....fire has always been one of my greatest fears. You captured that devestating experience well Pamela.
ReplyDeleteWow, Pamela. An intense piece of writing. I felt like I was there; great imagery.
ReplyDeletePamela,
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad and haunting. I saw a home burning last week, taking my daughter to a friend's house. The thought of memories and people's lives being singed bothered me. No one was hurt, physically, but mentally the anguish remains charred. The imagery was powerful! Well Done~
A terribly memory! The water boiling in the birdbath presented a powerful image.
ReplyDeleteOooh, this is very powerful!
ReplyDeleteThe imagery of the flames reaching the clouds, burning the sky and the red orange and blue ribbons - so vivid!
Terrible scene but wonderful writing.
You remind us that fire is not to be trifled with - it does not take more than a spark to bring tragedy.
ReplyDeletealthough fire was the central word, the last two lines are the essence of the imagery -
ReplyDelete"a charred outer shell
that was once a home "
nicely done!
Thanks Sherry:)
ReplyDeleteKenia it is very nice to meet you via the blog.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I almost moved to Brazil 9 years ago. But the economy was in such dire straits that we decided on Mexico. I would still love the move there.
Annell thank goodness it was only your garage.
ReplyDeleteThis house was directly across from ours. My parents woke me up in the middle of the night. I am not sure how I was still sleeping.
The woman was a piano instructor and a widow. She got out safely. But the image of the house burning is something I will always remember.
I felt so sad for her.
It was very frightening RJ.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised it is so vivid in my mind.
It almost wrote itself.
Thanks for the compliment fireblossom.
ReplyDeleteI am a dreamer, most definitely.
For me also Carrie, I am terrified of fire.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul:)
ReplyDeleteI glad no-one was hurt, Ella. Many lives are lost to fire.
ReplyDeleteYes, rinkly a terribly vivid memory.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit.
Thanks Susannah:)
ReplyDeleteVery true Kerry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit and the comment Liliana.
ReplyDeletePamela, I can only imagine the impression this fire left. Fires are so final. Diane is one who stood by and WATCHED as their house burned. She realized that a house is only a thing...... But I don't think I could bear to lose all of the small treasures housed within one's home.
ReplyDeleteMary, I can still remember it, like it was yesterday. I remember Diane writing about her story. I would have been devastated.
ReplyDeletePamela,
ReplyDeleteA very lively account of a horrific experience.
Palpable in the words used....
Eileen
Eileen, it was so long ago and just like yesterday.
ReplyDelete