Fire from heaven he kept
in the suit-coat pocket, folded
notes in leaves
of the combat bible — sweating
as he climbed
the dais. His gaze
sharp, scanning
the rows. The agitated
ones, his targeted
words aimed
at their throats. Convicting
in mind. Grace tied
and silenced.
Thirty minutes became
an hour under the weight
of his tongue. Choruses sung
coercively. Brimstone smoldered.
End of story — much smoke, no light.
* * *
Victoria is hosting Poetics at dVerse Poets Pub and she has us all hot under the (clerical) collar with a call for poets to bring “Fire.” Sheesh! Doesn’t she realize how dangerous that could be?!?
This was quite engaging to read Charley… I get the impression of a sermon being delivered. In the last line I get a sense of failed delivery, or value lavpcking in the message…
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Something of that nature. Or supernature. You’re on the mark.
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Interesting piece of poetry. Love your blog. Hope to see more from you. Keep up the good work. 😊😊😊
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Thank you!
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You arw welcome! 😊😊😊
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Grace tied and silenced – that is the pivot in this well-crafted portrait. Great images in this, Charley!
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Thank you, Jilly! I’m glad this worked for you. I hesitated to post this… not certain why.
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Because it is a harsh but accurate image? Because it contains the truth that without grace there is no light, only smoke to burn the eyes and blur the vision? Guessing here…
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Yeah… pretty much all of the above. You know how I hate to stir things up. 🙂
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I really like this one – how he folds the fire and keeps it in his suit-coat pocket – and how his sermon drags on – and in the end, it is all smoke. Well done.
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Yes! Fire and brimstone just doesn’t bring it home. I like that you chose this aspect, Charley–one that I wouldn’t have thought of. Life just won’t thrive without light. Nor will spirit.
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Agreed. I have a close connection with fire — not just poetic. And it burns my butt to see it so dangerously used. Great prompt!
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I love the opening stanza, and the image of “the combat bible” is terrific. The weight of his tongue, I can really feel that. Then in the end, all that firebut noillumination.
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Thought you might enjoy it. I’m familiar with that kind of fire. Versed, you might say.
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Ahahaha! Still chewing on that combat Bible image. Must be some pretty thick leather there.
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Snake skin. The thick hide can be found on almost any one of the parishioners.
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Who wields this fire I think I know
He is on the golf course though.
Such a violent character. Powerful poem.
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(voice of Yoda) Hmmm, allusion runs strong through this one. Dangerous can be!
Glad you enjoyed it!
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Brimstone smoldered.
No light… no true conversion.
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No true light… the people perish (cast off restraint). Thank you!
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going through the motions but no heart. the way he targets “the agitated ones”, like a viper strikes.
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Lacking unction (can’t tell you what it is, but I know when it ain’t). Glad you liked it!
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You poem is sad but true! smoke but no light! just fire and brimstone!! Well done Charley!
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A hellish experience, lacking in grace and God’s grace. Thank you!
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some sermons start with a lot of fire but fizzle out and I get fidgety – well done!
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Man-made fire… no lasting spark or kindling. Thank you!
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Yes, so true, smoke without light, flaming tongues only burn. Very good. And yes, fire is A dangerous prompt!
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Easy to get burned on this one! Glad you enjoyed my poem.
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I can imagine that happening: “his targeted
words aimed
at their throats.” Although I haven’t heard one like that since my youth.
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I’ve only heard a few. Mercifully. God’s grace.
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Sometimes if there is smoke, there is actually no fire at all…
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Sometimes, Björn… sometimes!
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Prayers for
Those
Who Die
For Nothing
Fired..:)
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Yes, indeed. Thank you!
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Welcome!
Charlie.. Thanks..
Great Poem..!..:)
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:)!
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Great read Charley. The Dusty Springfield song- Son of a Preacher Man kept playing in my head. I had to pull it up on Youtube.LOL
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Hmmm… interesting connection. Glad it brought you back to the basics!
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And I suppose a few memories of old loves- LOL.
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Trying to scare people into the kingdom of heaven isn’t usually effective. Bible combat should be used against evil power, not people.
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