What must I do to
burn myself everyday ?
Not palest flicker
Nor fluttering grasping glow
But the deep flare,
spiralling fire like tentacles
rooting from every cell
waking up each molecular grain
That deep hunger
That straddles the everyday
Free of regrets & shame
Without shape & numbers
Do I take this pale skin and color it
golden wheat, bursting of bird seeds
Do I curl my feet into a giant snowball
& hurl myself over the edge of a mountain
Do I leave my lover to
feel the deep ache & hollow of love
Must I lie alone in my bed
to pine for passion, knotted wild & fierce
Must I live in the desert
to treasure my footprints, both steady & faint
Must I cut my tongue, walk with a limp
& become blind, to savor each dewdrop
Each bloom, each burning kiss
a blue sky, a thunderstorm, a moon swell
What must I do to
burn myself everyday ?
Happy weekend ~
Picture credit: Tumblr.com
How to understand the sun and get the best of fun. Yes, making friends with the sun to get lots of returns. Nice thoughts Grace!
ReplyDeleteHank
Thanks Hank ~
DeleteWell you can feel the burn, as thing churn and just lie in its embrace, but you may end up hurting all over the place
ReplyDeleteFeel the burn, ouch on that ~ Happy Saturday Pat ~
Deletecurl my feet in a giant snowball and throw it over the mountain...ha...really a wicked flow...love the question, and passion with which you write this one.....
ReplyDeletehappy saturday
Thanks Brian ~
DeleteA letter filled with passion and beauty, Grace, as you implore the sun! I enjoyed savoring your images, and I especially like the second last stanza! Ending with the same couplet you began with is very effective, taking the poem full circle.
ReplyDeleteThat's my favorite part too Mary ~ Thank you for the lovely challenge ~
Delete
ReplyDeleteFree of regrets & shame
Without shape & numbers
To burn it all away like the sun... I love this, Grace.
Thank you Laurie ~
DeleteHow grateful we must be for sun in our north places...interesting imagery and always so attractive to me your nurturing essence...:)
ReplyDeleteThank you humbird ~
DeleteDo I take this pale skin and color it
ReplyDeletegolden wheat, bursting of bird seeds
- the best description of sun tan/burn ever!
a haunting epistle, Grace
Thanks M ~ But don't take me literally ~ I don't like sunburns, ouch ~
DeleteI read this as a wish for the passion we can never feel... (unless it's absent) ... who better than the sun can know how to burn without ever be consumed... ? really wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteTo burn and burn without being consumed, yes ~ Love your insights Bjorn ~
DeleteI couldn't understand the meaning of burning in the poem, until I read Bjorn's comment above. I like that explanation :)
ReplyDeleteThe sun is symbolic dear, thank you ~
DeleteThis makes me appreciate the sun so much Heaven, and this poem is perfect, in fact the more I read it the better it gets, some of your recent poems have been pieces of genius, pieces of absolute pleasure, I have to bookmark this, just out of this world good.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely words Matthew ~
DeleteConsumed by this, love!
ReplyDeleteConsumed but not totally burnt I hope ~ Thanks ~
DeleteOh, I traveled with each word, fixated on a few exquisite ones, and loved the journey
ReplyDeleteThank you ~
DeleteA wonderful letter & analogy, rife with symbol & passion. I sensed the stanzas dealt with the internal fires of creativity, to keep them stoked, stirring the magma of memory, stirring the hot lava of love for a world that craves, that needs more poetry; and you are a primer server; thanks.
ReplyDeleteYour comments are just poetic as my post Glenn ~ Thank you ~
DeleteI read it as a sad song of being so hurt that burning would be but a new mark on the dead skin.
ReplyDeleteThat was about my personal reading experience.
I liked the questionnaire form of the poem and the words tingled at my tongue.
Very powerful and evocative letter!
ReplyDeletethis i think can be called a literally burning desire....
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteMust I live in the desert
to treasure my footprints, both steady & faint ...my favourite lines... the idea of being alone but still getting on with it... I like that...strong poem!
This really captures how I've been feeling of late. My favourite lines have to be:
ReplyDeleteDo I take this pale skin and color it
golden wheat, bursting of bird seeds
Very good. Each of the many questions suggest the strong desire for an answer that has eluded and might never come. They intensify the yearning. I really appreciate it more after each reading, seeing new meanings in the images and symbols.
ReplyDeleteThank you Eusebia ~
Delete...now maybe you know why i look pale Grace... accounting holds responsible...ha... aside from weekends i guess the only time the sun could touch my skin was every lunch break when i got the chance to dine in somewhere other than the office canteen... but ye know... sun's rays isn't that much safe for the outer layer of our skin cells these days... the UV rays are much more harmful today than it were yesterday... so somehow, ok na rin na di maiinitan... hihi... love love love this... & hey... your blog is now 'Scarlet Verse'.... what happened to 'Sweet Lust'....? hmmn... smiles...
ReplyDeleteIts the same but I have changed the title ~ I had always wanted to change it but couldn't think of new one ~
DeleteAnd I am paler than you, & much more during winter time ~ Smiles
Nice write Grace.>KB
ReplyDeleteThanks KB~
DeleteGrace, you truly are the Queen of Passion. this is marvellous... i feel singed reading this - but in a good way. wonderful, wonderful work.
ReplyDelete~Miriam
Thanks Miriam ~
DeleteNo, no! Don't cut your tongue, whatever you do... We would all miss your voice. :)
ReplyDeleteSmiling, thank you Ruth ~
DeleteI read this as burning passion...
ReplyDeleteAs always, thank you, Heaven.
Have a beautiful weekend.
such a strong write - do love the lines
ReplyDelete'Do I take this pale skin and color it
golden wheat, bursting of bird seeds
Do I curl my feet into a giant snowball
& hurl myself over the edge of a mountain'
Beautiful, Grace - K
each molecule
ReplyDeleteof your kiss
leaves footprints
on my heart
Gosh! I was led astray, I think by the word "burn" because as you describe the sensation and the gratitude of those who really live, I felt you might mean ignite as in the ignition on the car which sometimes can be jump started when it doesn't provide enough juice. And O, that fired up PASSION! A thing of youth and innocence! And it does burn--it burns the candle of life from both ends, consumes, loves, gives--and afterwards the sleep is deep.
ReplyDeleteA glorious write......I especially loved the snowball feet and hurling yourself off a mountain.........inspired!
ReplyDeletebeautiful description... so love the warmth of the sun
ReplyDeleteThe passion of your poetry always blows me away - perhaps this one most of all.
ReplyDeleteAlmost a palindrome twisting from the burning sun of the sky to the burning sun within the heart and spirit. Delicious descriptions.
ReplyDeleteI love the new title - Scarlet Verses.
ReplyDeleteAnd the poem, my dear, burns its way right to the core.
But the deep flare,
spiralling fire like tentacles
I loved the whole poem, and the image enhanced the experience.
I have read through twice and I cannot chose any line that I love, that I haven't dwelled on, that hasn't given me a visual, for they all have - and I thank you Grace.
ReplyDeleteThis was absolutely gorgeous. So rich in questions and emotions.
ReplyDeleteLovely way to question why/how can we take our days for granted instead of being burned passionately with the opportunity of life. I like the energy in this poem. It is like a little glimpse of the sun. Have a great day Grace. Enjoy the sun.
ReplyDeletewhat an opening 3 lines ... beautiful work, as always
ReplyDeleteI love the passion in this. It's aggressive, demanding. It is fierce, actually. Rereading it a few times, so you know I think it's great :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a wickedly wild write, Grace. Wanting to be burned by the sun is like tempting fire, donning the wings of Icarus... it's almost as though the narrator craves abuse or failure, but doesn't see it as such for love of the sun. I don't think this will end well...
ReplyDeleteBut that's just me! Supremely interesting poetry! Amy
Oh, don't we all want to feel the burn, that sense that we are experiencing something supreme! I love the way your poetry can be read both literally and metaphorically. It's cleverly done, with beautiful, sensuous imagery.
ReplyDeleteexcellent G
ReplyDeletewhat they said ^ smiles and a hearty, "LOVE IT!"
ReplyDelete