No way I'm listing my flames! Married at age 19, divorced, then dating in my 40s I was too old to name them 'flames'!
I just lit a fire. With subzero temperatures it is cozy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dad’s morning ritual
gather the kindling
crumple newspapers
place them in the stove
a ritual my father performed
every morning before the sun rose
mom's cancer burned her cells
as the flames consumed the logs
there's a chill today
he'll light a fire
they hadn't been warm for years
fragile and ravaged by toil
radiation burned away that protective layer
they both brought in logs
moving one at a time
weary with the labour pains of living
dad’s brain tumour eating his mind
flames flicker reflected in his eyes
there's a chill today
they'll light a fire
here I come, I said
I’ll help you carry the load
Afraid of my motivation
Yet unable do it alone
I honour and laud them
every day of my life
grateful for being chosen
no longer facing strife
there's a chill today
I'll light a fire
With mom gone to the light
I remember the last fire he lit
when I rose to greet the day
he lay asleep on the floor
trying to get warm
the radiation had burned his scalp
much as the flames in the stove
there's a chill today
I'll light a fire
they've gone now
both are at rest
after a lifetime of lifting others
no long do they toil
they have a lighter load
for my morning ritual
I genuflect in front of the stove
warmed by memories of love
There’s a chill today
the cat needs a fire
8 comments:
Soo deep. Like this
Wow, incredible. The images related to your parent's illnesses are the most striking. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Nice movement and great imagery. Unexpected kitty is nice.
beautiful.
and I think you did use the prompt--who is our first love, after all, if not our dear old dad?
You're right, Angie! Dear old dad.
It's my Mom I keep wanting to phone!
Mom died so quickly - 6 weeks after I moved here, but dad I cared for for months.
A very beautiful and moving tribute Jenn - I am sure each time you light a fire you think of them both.
This was very lovely-- the repetition worked so well as the endless loop of memories playing again and again.
this was amazing...
and heartbreaking.
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