Login   Sign Up 



 

The Fire Sprite

by John G.Hall 

Posted: 19 April 2004
Word Count: 39
Summary: life by fire....


Font Size
 


Printable Version
Print Double spaced


The Fire Sprite

Flames followed her,
a careless candle
dipped with sleeve
one quiet Christmas,

an electric cookers
ring left on melting
Easters family meal,

a father found charred
dead head crest fallen
on fires black pillow.


John G.Hall(C)2004






Favourite this work Favourite This Author


Comments by other Members



Skeetr at 13:47 on 20 April 2004  Report this post
John G.,

I've been trying to find words for this -- I've settled for "beautifully chilling."

The girl/woman's sprite (whether actual or imagined, doesn't seem to matter) is less elf and more malignant spirit. That the "flames follow her" throughout her days, causing accident after accident and, finally, causing something that hints at the malignant, is suitably eerily frightening.

And I like that, despite the direct language (there is this sprite and this is what it has done), you structure the poem so that the questions linger -- is this just a life of horrible luck? or are there forces out there that are less than kind and not within our control? is this madness or possession?

Very satisfying poem, crafted to deeply effect and it does,

Smith

Account Closed at 20:07 on 21 April 2004  Report this post
Enjoyed this - but what about dividing it into a four-line stanza and then 2 three-line ones? - I wasn't sure whether you might need a gap between the trains of thought ...

Very sinister though - don't ask my why but it feels celtic. Could we have the apostrophes however?!!!

:))

Anne B


To post comments you need to become a member. If you are already a member, please log in .