Five Poems by Lynn White

 

In Flames

Gather round!

Gather round

the hearth

it’s a cosy place

if the fire is burning

and we’ll keep it burning

never fear

the flames.

Gather round

to watch them flaring 

back to life

leaping

and lapping

from the once cooling embers,

watch the shapes and shades

flickering

dancing

alight

alive,

a living fire.

Gather round,

gather round!

We’ll keep it burning

the home fire

watch 

closely 

let yourself

be hypnotised

bewitched

be mesmerised

by the flickering flames,

waving and dancing.

Listen to them 

as they crackle

and scream

as a living fire must.

Gather round,

never fear

the cold

we’ll keep it burning

the home fire

screaming

crackling 

dancing

flaming

living

aflame

with new life.

Gather round.

First published in New Reader Magazine, Keeper Of Fire Issue, 2019

Ablaze

The horizon is blazing like a sunset

and the sea is no place for a horse.

But there’s no land left for a horse

and the earth is sinking now

following the sunken sun.

Soon even the sea will burn,

even the horse will burn.

Soon everything will burn.

The end.

First published in Medusa’s Kitchen Ekphrastic Challenge, October 19 2024

Brides of Fire

Who will be the chosen one,

the one to join the virgins

wedded to the fire

the one to keep it burning

until the new prince comes.

Who will wait for him

to put it out 

remodel it

then rekindle it

as the new era begins.

A new fire for new times.

What will become of us then.

First published in Free Verse Revolution, Issue 3 ‘Hestia’, September 2021

Burning Up

The sun has risen

and it’s burning,

burning up 

everything.

And I’m raising my arms

to worship

or plead.

Not sure which.

Praise or prayer,

perhaps they’re the same.

That’s my thought

for the day.

Quite profound,

I think,

for the day when I’m sure

I’ll be going home.

What do you think?

Are we of the same mind?

Great minds thinking alike again.

Come, it’s time

to go.

Hold my hand.

First published in I Become the Beast, Spring 2023

Fire

The fire has spread 

from the mountain

to the shore,

from the cities

to the ruins of cities

burning

burning 

burning

and it will catch you,

however far you run,

however fast you run

away

Death is running faster.

Soon only the dead

can stay.

Now even the sea is flaming

as oil burns in the water

burning 

burning

burning

and however fast you sail,

however far you row

away

Death is moving faster.

Soon only the dead

will stay.

First published in Gorko Gazette, December 2024

Lynn White lives in north Wales. Her work is influenced by issues of social justice and events, places and people she has known or imagined. She is especially interested in exploring the boundaries of dream, fantasy and reality. She has been nominated for Pushcarts, Best of the Net and a Rhysling Award. 

https://lynnwhitepoetry.blogspot.com and https://www.facebook.com/Lynn-White-Poetry-1603675983213077/