Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Fire

source

Midweek Motif ~ Fire

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the single candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.": Gautama Buddha

"Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.": George Washington

"When one burns one's bridges, what a very nice fire it makes.": Dylan Thomas

Fire can both be a foe or a friend depending on the choice of looking at it. It warms us in our time of need, dispels darkness but also burns, consumes and devastates.

Kindling a fire may symbolize inspiration, regeneration.

Many cultures view fire as an emblem of wisdom and enlightenment.

It is a symbol of divinity, purity as well as damnation in many faiths around the world.

Fire has not lost its symbolic significance to modern man also. Freud saw fire as an aspect of the libido (sex drive) representing forbidden passions.

Mother Nature also uses fire both as an agent of destruction and regeneration. Many native plants in American west and south west and elsewhere around the world cannot germinate without the scorching heat of a wild fire.

Now, a couple of poems on today's theme Fire:

Fire and Ice

by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Phenomenal Woman

by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonders where my secret lies.

I am not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I am telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips,

I'm a woman

Phenomenally,

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honeybees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman 

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

              (The rest is here)

Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community.

                        (Next week Susan's Midweek Motif will be ~ Gravity)